Daily Readings - Thu Feb 21 2019
Genesis
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
Mark
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.