Daily Readings - Wed Feb 13 2019
Genesis
4These are the generations of heaven and earth, when they were created, in the day when the Lord God made heaven and earth5and every sapling of the field, before it would rise up in the land, and every wild plant, before it would germinate. For the Lord God had not brought rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the land6But a fountain ascended from the earth, irrigating the entire surface of the land7And then the Lord God formed man from the clay of the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul8Now the Lord God had planted a Paradise of enjoyment from the beginning. In it, he placed the man whom he had formed9And from the soil the Lord God produced every tree that was beautiful to behold and pleasant to eat. And even the tree of life was in the midst of Paradise, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil15Thus, the Lord God brought the man, and put him into the Paradise of enjoyment, so that it would be attended and preserved by him16And he instructed him, saying: "From every tree of Paradise, you shall eat17But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. For in whatever day you will eat from it, you will die a death.
Mark
14And again, calling the crowd to him, he said to them: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand15There is nothing from outside a man which, by entering into him, is able to defile him. But the things which proceed from a man, these are what pollute a man16Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.17And when he had entered into the house, away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him about the parable18And he said to them: "So, are you also without prudence? Do you not understand that everything entering to a man from outside is not able to pollute him19For it does not enter into his heart, but into the gut, and it exits into the sewer, purging all foods.20"But," he said "the things which go out from a man, these pollute a man21For from within, from the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders22thefts, avarice, wickedness, deceitfulness, homosexuality, an evil eye, blasphemy, self-exaltation, foolishness23All these evils proceed from within and pollute a man.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of humanity, creation, and the source of sin. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of humanity and the Garden of Eden. God forms man from the earth and places him in a paradise filled with beauty and abundance. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil stand at the center, symbolizing the gift of life and the choice between obedience and disobedience. This passage reminds us that we are created in God’s image, called to care for creation, and given the freedom to choose between good and evil.
In the Gospel, Jesus shifts our focus from external purity to the inner heart. He teaches that it is not what enters from outside that defiles a person, but rather what comes out from within. Jesus lists the evils that flow from the human heart—such as greed, deceit, and murder—emphasizing that true defilement comes from our own sinful choices. This teaching challenges us to look inward, to examine our thoughts, desires, and actions, and to recognize that the root of sin lies within us.
These readings call us to live with integrity and self-awareness. Just as Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to care for the Garden, we too are called to tend to our own hearts. Let us ask ourselves: What are the “trees” in our lives—those choices and desires—that either lead us closer to God or away from Him? May we cultivate hearts of love, compassion, and honesty, so that the fruits of our lives may reflect the purity and grace of God’s creation.