Daily Readings - Wed Feb 20 2019

⁶And when forty days had passed, Noah, opening the window that he had made in the ark, sent forth a raven⁷which went forth and did not return, until the waters were dried up across the earth⁸Likewise, he sent forth a dove after him, in order to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth⁹But when she did not find a place where her foot might rest, she returned to him in the ark. For the waters were upon the whole earth. And he extended his hand and caught her, and he brought her into the ark¹⁰And then, having waited a further seven days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark¹¹And she came to him in the evening, carrying in her mouth an olive branch with green leaves. Noah then understood that the waters had ceased upon the earth¹²And nevertheless, he waited another seven days. And he sent forth the dove, which no longer returned to him¹³Therefore, in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were diminished upon the earth. And Noah, opening the cover of the ark, gazed out and saw that the surface of the earth had become dry²⁰Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. And, taking from each of the cattle and birds that were clean, he offered holocausts upon the altar²¹And the Lord smelled the sweet odor and said: "I will no longer curse the earth because of man. For the feelings and thoughts of the heart of man are prone to evil from his youth. Therefore, I will no longer pierce every living soul as I have done²²All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, will not cease.

Mark

Chapter 8

²²And they went to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to him. And they petitioned him, so that he would touch him²³And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him beyond the village. And putting spit on his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he could see anything²⁴And looking up, he said, "I see men but they are like walking trees.²⁵Next he placed his hands again over his eyes, and he began to see. And he was restored, so that he could see everything clearly²⁶And he sent him to his house, saying, "Go into your own house, and if you enter into the town, tell no one.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, patience, and the transformative power of God’s grace. In the first reading from Genesis, Noah’s story unfolds as he waits for the floodwaters to recede. Sending out the raven and then the dove, Noah demonstrates his trust in God’s promise of renewal. The dove’s return with an olive branch signals hope and new life, while Noah’s act of building an altar expresses gratitude and a desire to reconnect with God. This passage reminds us that even in uncertain times, God’s plan unfolds in His own time, and our response should be one of faith and thanksgiving. In the Gospel, Mark presents a unique healing story where Jesus restores a blind man’s sight in stages. The blind man first sees people as walking trees, and only after a second touch does he see clearly. This narrative suggests that spiritual sight, like physical sight, may come gradually. The man’s journey from darkness to light mirrors our own journey of faith, where God reveals truth step by step. Jesus’ instruction to the man to tell no one about the healing adds another layer, reminding us that true faith often begins in quiet, personal encounters with God before it is shared with others. These readings call us to embrace patience and trust in God’s timing. Like Noah, we may face periods of waiting, unsure of what lies ahead, but we can trust that God is working to bring new life. Like the blind man, we may experience moments of partial understanding, but with persistence and openness, God will deepen our vision. Let us allow these stories to inspire us to trust in God’s plan, to wait with hope, and to seek His transformative grace in our lives.