Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 21, 2019
First Reading: Genesis 9.1-13
1And God blessed Noah and his sons. And he said to them: "Increase, and multiply, and fill the earth2And let the fear and trembling of you be upon all the animals of the earth, and upon all the birds of the air, along with all that moves across the earth. All the fish of the sea have been delivered into your hand3And everything that moves and lives will be food for you. Just as with the edible plants, I have delivered them all to you4except that flesh with blood you shall not eat5For I will examine the blood of your lives at the hand of every beast. So also, at the hand of mankind, at the hand of each man and his brother, I will examine the life of mankind6Whoever will shed human blood, his blood will be poured out. For man was indeed made to the image of God7But as for you: increase and multiply, and go forth upon the earth and fulfill it.8To Noah and to his sons with him, God also said this9"Behold, I will establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you10and with every living soul that is with you: as much with the birds as with the cattle and all the animals of the earth that have gone forth from the ark, and with all the wild beasts of the earth11I will establish my covenant with you, and no longer will all that is flesh be put to death by the waters of a great flood, and, henceforth, there will not be a great flood to utterly destroy the earth.12And God said: "This is the sign of the pact that I grant between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations13I will place my arc in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the pact between myself and the earth
Psalm 102
1The prayer of the pauper, when he was anxious, and so he poured out his petition in the sight of the Lord. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my outcry reach you2Do not turn your face away from me. In whatever day that I am in trouble, incline your ear to me. In whatever day that I will call upon you, heed me quickly3For my days have faded away like smoke, and my bones have dried out like firewood4I have been cut down like hay, and my heart has withered, for I had forgotten to eat my bread5Before the voice of my groaning, my bone has adhered to my flesh6I have become like a pelican in solitude. I have become like a night raven in a house7I have kept vigil, and I have become like a solitary sparrow on a roof8All day long my enemies reproached me, and those who praised me swore oaths against me9For I chewed on ashes like bread, and I mixed weeping into my drink10By the face of your anger and indignation, you lifted me up and threw me down11My days have declined like a shadow, and I have dried out like hay12But you, O Lord, endure for eternity, and your memorial is from generation to generation13You will rise up and take pity on Zion, for it is time for its mercy, for the time has come14For its stones have pleased your servants, and they will take pity on its land15And the Gentiles will fear your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory16For the Lord has built up Zion, and he will be seen in his glory17He has noticed the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition18Let these things be written in another generation, and the people who will be created will praise the Lord19For he has gazed from his high sanctuary. From heaven, the Lord has beheld the earth20So may he hear the groans of those in shackles, in order that he may release the sons of the slain21So may they announce the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem22while the people convene, along with kings, in order that they may serve the Lord23He responded to him in the way of his virtue: Declare to me the brevity of my days24Do not call me back in the middle of my days: your years are from generation to generation25In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth. And the heavens are the work of your hands26They will perish, but you remain. And all will grow old like a garment. And, like a blanket, you will change them, and they will be changed27Yet you are ever yourself, and your years will not decline28The sons of your servants will live, and their offspring will be guided aright in every age
Gospel: Mark 8.27-33
27And Jesus departed with his disciples into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way, he questioned his disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?28And they answered him by saying: "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others perhaps one of the prophets.29Then he said to them, "Yet truly, who do you say that I am?" Peter responded by saying to him, "You are the Christ.30And he admonished them, not to tell anyone about him31And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again32And he spoke the word openly. And Peter, taking him aside, began to correct him33And turning away and looking at his disciples, he admonished Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan, for you do not prefer the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments in the history of God's relationship with humanity. The first reading from Genesis describes the covenant God establishes with Noah after the flood, a promise of renewal and protection, symbolized by the rainbow. This covenant extends not just to Noah and his family but to all living creatures, emphasizing God's universal care and the sacredness of life. The Gospel reading from Mark presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, where he reveals his identity as the Christ and begins to teach his disciples about the necessity of his suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter's reaction and Jesus' rebuke highlight the tension between human understanding and divine will.
The context of these readings reveals God's enduring commitment to humanity. In Genesis, the flood represents a reset, a fresh start, with God pledging never again to destroy the earth in such a way. This covenant is a testament to God's mercy and faithfulness. In Mark, Jesus' conversation with his disciples marks a turning point, as he shifts from his public ministry to preparing his followers for the reality of his mission. Peter's resistance to the idea of suffering reflects our own struggles to accept the cross in our lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and our willingness to embrace His plan. Like Noah, we are called to trust in God's promises, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Like Peter, we may resist the idea of sacrifice, but Jesus reminds us that true discipleship requires taking up our cross and following Him. In our daily lives, this means aligning our will with God's, even when it challenges our desires or comforts. The moral lesson here is clear: to live as children of God, we must embrace both the beauty of His promises and the demands of His call.