Daily Readings - Tue Feb 18 2020
James
12Blessed is the man who suffers temptation. For when he has been proven, he shall receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him13No one should say, when he is tempted, that he was tempted by God. For God does not entice toward evils, and he himself tempts no one14Yet truly, each one is tempted by his own desires, having been enticed and drawn away15Thereafter, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. Yet truly sin, when it has been consummated, produces death16And so, do not choose to go astray, my most beloved brothers17Every excellent gift and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor any shadow of alteration18For by his own will he produced us through the Word of truth, so that we might be a kind of beginning among his creatures
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 are invited to reflect on the nature of temptation, the importance of spiritual discernment, and the call to trust in God’s providence. The first reading from James reminds us that temptation does not come from God but from our own desires. James encourages us to remain faithful during trials, for it is through perseverance that we grow in holiness. He also reminds us that every good gift comes from God, who is the Father of lights, unchanging and eternal. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus cautioning his disciples against the “leaven of the Pharisees and Herod,” a metaphor for the corrupting influence of hypocrisy and worldly power. Jesus then rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith and understanding, reminding them of the miracles of the loaves, which should have strengthened their trust in his divine providence.
The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian experience. James writes to a community facing various trials, urging them to remain steadfast and to recognize the source of sin and temptation within themselves. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, captures a moment when the disciples are still learning to trust Jesus beyond their immediate physical needs. Their forgetfulness of the miraculous provision of bread reveals a deeper spiritual blindness, which Jesus addresses by calling them to greater faith and understanding.
Both readings relate to each other in their emphasis on spiritual awareness and trust in God. James warns us against the internal temptations that can lead us astray, while Mark’s Gospel highlights the importance of discerning the subtle influences of the world and placing our trust in God’s plan. Together, they call us to live with integrity, avoiding the hypocrisy and corruption that can seep into our lives, and to trust in God’s goodness and providence, even when we face uncertainty or scarcity.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to examine our own desires and the influences that shape our choices. Let us ask ourselves: What are the “leaven” influences in my life that pull me away from God? Do I trust in God’s plan, even when I feel lacking or uncertain? James reminds us that every good gift comes from God, so let us cultivate gratitude for the blessings we receive and remain vigilant against the temptations that arise from our own desires. May we, like the disciples, learn to see beyond the physical and trust in the divine plan, remembering that God always provides, even when we do not see it immediately.