Daily Readings - Wed Feb 10 2021
Genesis
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.
Mark
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.