Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 16, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 6.5-8; 7.1-5, 10
5Then God, seeing that the wickedness of men was great upon the earth and that every thought of their heart was intent upon evil at all times6repented that he had made man on the earth. And being touched inwardly with a sorrow of heart7he said, "I will eliminate man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, from man to other living things, from animals even to the flying things of the air. For it grieves me that I have made them.8Yet truly, Noah found grace before the Lord
1And the Lord said to him: "Enter the ark, you and all your house. For I have seen you to be just in my sight, within this generation2From all the clean animals, take seven and seven, the male and the female. Yet truly, from animals that are unclean, take two and two, the male and the female3But also from the birds of the air, take seven and seven, the male and the female, so that offspring may be saved upon the face of the whole earth4For from that point, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. And I will wipe away every substance that I have made, from the surface of the earth.5Therefore, Noah did all things just as the Lord had commanded him10And when seven days had passed, the waters of the great flood inundated the earth
Psalm 29
1A Psalm of David, at the completion of the tabernacle. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord the sons of rams2Bring to the Lord, glory and honor. Bring to the Lord, glory for his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court3The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of majesty has thundered. The Lord is over many waters4The voice of the Lord is in virtue. The voice of the Lord is in magnificence5The voice of the Lord shatters the cedars. And the Lord will shatter the cedars of Lebanon6And it will break them into pieces, like a calf of Lebanon, and in the same way as the beloved son of the single-horned beast7The voice of the Lord cuts through the flame of fire8The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. And the Lord will quake the desert of Kadesh9The voice of the Lord is preparing the stags, and he will reveal the dense woods. And in his temple, all will speak his glory10The Lord causes the great flood to dwell. And the Lord will sit as King in eternity11The Lord will give virtue to his people. The Lord will bless his people in peace
Gospel: Mark 8.14-21
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 encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, judgment, and spiritual understanding. The first reading from Genesis describes God's sorrow over humanity's corruption, leading to the decision to send a flood. Yet, amidst this judgment, Noah finds grace and is commissioned to build an ark, becoming an instrument of salvation. This passage underscores the themes of divine mercy and the importance of righteousness in the face of wickedness.
The Gospel from Mark shifts our focus to Jesus, who warns his disciples against the "leaven of the Pharisees and Herod," symbolizing hypocrisy and worldly influences. Despite the miracles they witnessed, the disciples struggle with understanding, prompting Jesus to question their faith. This exchange highlights the challenge of moving beyond superficial concerns to embrace deeper spiritual truths.
Together, these readings remind us to trust in God's plan and seek spiritual growth. Just as Noah's faith led to salvation, our trust in God can guide us through life's challenges. We are called to avoid corruption and hypocrisy, instead striving for a profound understanding of God's will. In our daily lives, may we embrace this call, deepening our faith and seeking a closer relationship with God, just as Noah and the disciples were called to do.