Daily Readings - Tue Feb 19 2019
Genesis
5Then God, seeing that the wickedness of men was great upon the earth and that every thought of their heart was intent upon evil at all times6repented that he had made man on the earth. And being touched inwardly with a sorrow of heart7he said, "I will eliminate man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, from man to other living things, from animals even to the flying things of the air. For it grieves me that I have made them.8Yet truly, Noah found grace before the Lord
1And the Lord said to him: "Enter the ark, you and all your house. For I have seen you to be just in my sight, within this generation2From all the clean animals, take seven and seven, the male and the female. Yet truly, from animals that are unclean, take two and two, the male and the female3But also from the birds of the air, take seven and seven, the male and the female, so that offspring may be saved upon the face of the whole earth4For from that point, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. And I will wipe away every substance that I have made, from the surface of the earth.5Therefore, Noah did all things just as the Lord had commanded him10And when seven days had passed, the waters of the great flood inundated the earth
Mark
14And they forgot to take bread. And they did not have any with them in the boat, except one loaf15And he instructed them, saying: "Consider and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod.16And they discussed this with one another, saying, "For we have no bread.17And Jesus, knowing this, said to them: "Why do you consider that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet know or understand? Do you still have blindness in your heart18Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? Do you not remember19when I broke the five loves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments you took up?" They said to him, "Twelve.20"And when the seven loaves were among the four thousand, how many baskets of fragments did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven.21And he said to them, "How is it that you do not yet understand?
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, judgment, and divine providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Noah's Ark, a tale of God's sorrow over humanity's wickedness and His decision to send a flood. Yet, amidst this judgment, Noah's righteousness shines through, as he is chosen to preserve life, illustrating God's mercy and plan for salvation. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus cautioning His disciples against the corrupting influence of the Pharisees and Herod, using leaven as a metaphor. He then questions their lack of understanding, referencing the miracles of the loaves to emphasize trust in God's provision.
Both readings share a common thread of judgment and salvation. In Genesis, God's judgment is tempered with mercy, as Noah's obedience provides a path to salvation. Similarly, in Mark, Jesus warns against spiritual corruption, urging the disciples to have faith and discernment. The feeding miracles serve as reminders of God's abundance and provision, encouraging the disciples to look beyond physical needs to spiritual truths.
Applying these lessons to our lives, we are called to trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Like Noah, we must be vigilant and obedient, ensuring our actions align with God's will. The readings remind us to guard against spiritual corruption and to cultivate faith, recognizing God's presence and provision in our lives. May we, like Noah, find grace through our faith and, like the disciples, grow in understanding and trust in God's divine plan.