Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 10, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 2.4b-9, 15-17
4These are the generations of heaven and earth, when they were created, in the day when the Lord God made heaven and earth5and every sapling of the field, before it would rise up in the land, and every wild plant, before it would germinate. For the Lord God had not brought rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the land6But a fountain ascended from the earth, irrigating the entire surface of the land7And then the Lord God formed man from the clay of the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul8Now the Lord God had planted a Paradise of enjoyment from the beginning. In it, he placed the man whom he had formed9And from the soil the Lord God produced every tree that was beautiful to behold and pleasant to eat. And even the tree of life was in the midst of Paradise, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil15Thus, the Lord God brought the man, and put him into the Paradise of enjoyment, so that it would be attended and preserved by him16And he instructed him, saying: "From every tree of Paradise, you shall eat17But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. For in whatever day you will eat from it, you will die a death.
Psalm 104
1To David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are exceedingly great. You have clothed yourself with confession and beauty2you are dressed with light like a garment, while you stretch out heaven like a tent3You cover its heights with water. You set the clouds as your stairs. You walk upon the wings of the winds4You make your Angels a breath of life, and your ministers a burning fire5You founded the earth upon its stable base. It will not be bent from age to age6The abyss, like a garment, is its clothing. The waters will remain standing above the mountains7At your rebuke, they will flee. At the voice of your thunder, they will dread8The mountains ascend, and the plains descend, to the place which you have founded for them9You have set a limit that they will not cross. And they will not return to cover the earth10You spring forth fountains in steep valleys. The waters will cross through the midst of the mountains11All the wild beasts of the field will drink. The wild donkeys will anticipate in their thirst12Above them, the flying things of the air will dwell. From the midst of the rocks, they will utter voices13You irrigate the mountains from your heights. The earth will be satiated from the fruit of your works14producing grass for cattle and herbs for the service of men. So may you draw bread from the earth15and wine, in order to cheer the heart of man. Then he may gladden his face with oil, and bread will confirm the heart of man16The trees of the field will be saturated, along with the cedars of Lebanon, which he planted17There, the sparrows will make their nests. The leader of them is the house of the heron18The heights of the hills are for the deer; the rock is a refuge for the hedgehog19He has made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting20You appointed darkness, and it has become night; all the beasts of the forest will cross through it21The young lions will roar, while searching for and seizing their meal from God22The sun arose, and they were gathered together; and in their dens, they will lie down together23Man will go forth to his work and to his activities, until the evening24How great are your works, O Lord! You have made all things in wisdom. The earth has been filled with your possessions25This sea is great and its hands are spacious. There are creeping things without number: the small animals with the great26There, the ships will pass by this sea-serpent that you have formed to mock them27All these expect you to give them food in due time28What you give to them, they will gather. When you open your hand, they will all be filled with goodness29But if you turn your face away, they will be disturbed. You will take away their breath, and they will fail, and they will return to their dust30You will send forth your Spirit, and they will be created. And you will renew the face of the earth31May the glory of the Lord be for all ages. The Lord will rejoice in his works32He considers the earth, and he makes it tremble. He touches the mountains, and they smoke33I will sing to the Lord with my life. I will sing psalms to my God, as long as I am34May my speech be pleasing to him. Truly, I will take delight in the Lord35Let sinners fade away from the earth, along with the unjust, so that they may not be. Bless the Lord, O my soul
Gospel: Mark 7.14-23
14And again, calling the crowd to him, he said to them: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand15There is nothing from outside a man which, by entering into him, is able to defile him. But the things which proceed from a man, these are what pollute a man16Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.17And when he had entered into the house, away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him about the parable18And he said to them: "So, are you also without prudence? Do you not understand that everything entering to a man from outside is not able to pollute him19For it does not enter into his heart, but into the gut, and it exits into the sewer, purging all foods.20"But," he said "the things which go out from a man, these pollute a man21For from within, from the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders22thefts, avarice, wickedness, deceitfulness, homosexuality, an evil eye, blasphemy, self-exaltation, foolishness23All these evils proceed from within and pollute a man.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the theme of purity, both in creation and in our inner lives. The first reading from Genesis recounts the creation of humanity and the Garden of Eden, highlighting the pristine state of purity and harmony God intended for us. This passage reminds us of our special role as stewards of creation and the gift of free will, which brings both privilege and responsibility.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shifts the focus from external purity to internal purity. He teaches that it is not what enters our bodies that defiles us, but the evils that come from our hearts. This challenges us to look inward, recognizing that true purity is a matter of the heart, not just adherence to rules or rituals. Jesus lists various evils that emerge from within, such as greed, deceit, and envy, emphasizing that these are what truly corrupt us.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to examine our own hearts and actions. In a world often focused on external appearances, Jesus reminds us that true holiness begins within. Let us strive to cultivate virtues like love, compassion, and humility, allowing these to guide our actions and decisions. By focusing on inner purity, we can live more authentically as children of God, reflecting His love in all we do.