Daily Readings - Thu Feb 14 2019
Genesis
18The Lord God also said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. Let us make a helper for him similar to himself.19Therefore, the Lord God, having formed from the soil all the animals of the earth and all the flying creatures of the air, brought them to Adam, in order to see what he would call them. For whatever Adam would call any living creature, that would be its name20And Adam called each of the living things by their names: all the flying creatures of the air, and all the wild beasts of the land. Yet truly, for Adam, there was not found a helper similar to himself21And so the Lord God sent a deep sleep upon Adam. And when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and he completed it with flesh for it22And the Lord God built up the rib, which he took from Adam, into a woman. And he led her to Adam23And Adam said: "Now this is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh. This one shall be called woman, because she was taken from man.24For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh25Now they were both naked: Adam, of course, and his wife. And they were not ashamed
Mark
24And rising up, he went from there to the area of Tyre and Sidon. And entering into a house, he intended no one to know about it, but he was not able to remain hidden25For a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, as soon as she heard about him, entered and fell prostrate at his feet26For the woman was a Gentile, by birth a Syro-Phoenician. And she petitioned him, so that he would cast the demon from her daughter27And he said to her: "First allow the sons to have their fill. For it is not good to take away the bread of the sons and throw it to the dogs.28But she responded by saying to him: "Certainly, Lord. Yet the young dogs also eat, under the table, from the crumbs of the children.29And he said to her, "Because of this saying, go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.30And when she had gone to her house, she found the girl lying on the bed; and the demon had gone away
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of partnership, faith, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of Eve, the first woman, and the establishment of marriage as a sacred union between man and woman. Adam, upon seeing Eve, exclaims joyfully, recognizing her as bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. This passage emphasizes the deep bond of marriage, where two individuals become one flesh, united in love and mutual support. It also reminds us that human beings are not meant to be alone; we are created for relationship and companionship.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of partnership—one between Jesus and a persistent Gentile woman. This woman, a Syrophoenician by birth, humbly approaches Jesus, pleading for her daughter’s healing despite the cultural and religious barriers that separate them. Her faith and determination are rewarded when Jesus praises her words and grants her request, freeing her daughter from the unclean spirit. This passage highlights the power of faith and the boundless mercy of God, who hears the cries of all people, regardless of their background.
Both readings remind us of the importance of relationships in our lives. In Genesis, we see the sacred bond of marriage as a reflection of God’s love for humanity. In Mark’s Gospel, we witness the transformative power of faith and humility in bridging even the widest divides. As we go about our daily lives, let us cherish the relationships that God has given us, whether in marriage, family, or friendship. Let us also approach God with the same persistence and humility as the Syrophoenician woman, trusting in His love and mercy to bring healing and unity to our lives. May we, like Adam and Eve, recognize the sacredness of the bonds we share, and may we, like the woman in the Gospel, never lose faith in God’s ability to transform even the most difficult circumstances.