On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from an element of the day’s liturgy. This evening we go back to today’s gospel where Jesus heals a man who is deaf and mute by speaking the word, « Ephhatha » which means « be opened! »
Suppose Jesus were to come to you right now,
right now while now while you’re praying,
right here, where you’re praying…
And imagine Jesus touched your ears and said:
Ephphatha!
Be opened!
Be opened!
and be open to the word
I’ve been
speaking to you for years,
speaking to you for years,
especially that one word,
that message you’re afraid to hear
or don’t want to hear,
or refuse to hear,
the message, the word that challenges you
and calls you to make real changes…
Open your ears to hear the truth.
Remove the ear plugs
of your prejudice, bias and
political correctness.
political correctness.
Open your ears and your mind and your heart!
Open your ears and listen:
hear the truth that others are speaking,
especially those you don’t want to hear…
Open your ears and hear
not just the version of
truth that’s yours
truth that’s yours
but listen for the whole truth
and nothing but the truth…
Ephphatha! Be open to the word I speak to you!
And imagine Jesus touched your lips and said:
Ephphatha!
Be opened!
Be opened!
Open your mouth to speak,
to speak clearly about
your faith
your faith
to speak plainly to others about your faith,
sharing with them the peace you find
in believing, in trusting,
in hoping in me, your God!
Open your mouth and pray – speak to me!
Share with me your good times and your bad times.
Open your mouth
and speak the just word, the
caring word.
caring word.
a word of compassion, a word of challenge,
a
word of mercy a word of pardon
word of mercy a word of pardon
to whomever needs to hear such a word
from you, from your heart, from your mouth…
Open your mouth and speak with love
to those who have no one to love them…
Speak a word of welcome and warmth
to those who have no place to go…
And speak a word, a gentle word
to those who’ve been wounded by hurt…
Ephphatha!
Open your mouth and speak to me,
I love the sound of your voice!
/ / / / / / / / / / / /
Well, I don’t have to imagine, Lord,
because you are with me now while I’m praying
and you are with me here in the place where I pray…
I don’t have to imagine, Lord,
because I know you come to me day and night
reaching out your hand
to touch my ears
and open my heart to your word,
and to touch my lips
and open my mouth to speak the truth
and to sing your praise…
Open my ears even more, Lord,
so I catch every word you whisper
and open my voice to its fullness
to proclaim your mercy, your pardon and peace…
Protect me, Lord, while I’m awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
Ephphatha!
Be opened my eyes,
Be opened my eyes,
be
opened my eyes,
opened my eyes,
be
opened my eyes,
opened my eyes,
Ephphatha!
Be opened my ears, Lord
Be opened my ears, Lord
help
me to hear your Word
me to hear your Word
Ephphatha!
Be opened my heart,
Be opened my heart,
be
opened my mind, God fill me inside,
opened my mind, God fill me inside,
with
Your Love
Your Love
1)
If you can make a blind man see,
If you can make a blind man see,
open
me Lord, set my soul free
me Lord, set my soul free
2)
If you can make the deaf hear
If you can make the deaf hear
and
the mute speak,
the mute speak,
fill
my ears and tongue
my ears and tongue
with
Your Word so sweet
Your Word so sweet
3)
Help me to receive your love
Help me to receive your love
Help
me to live your love
me to live your love
Help
me to give your love
me to give your love
Ephphatha!
Open
me, open me, Lord
me, open me, Lord
