Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 21, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 9.8-15
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 earth14And when I obscure the sky with clouds, my arc will appear in the clouds15And I will remember my covenant with you, and with every living soul that enlivens flesh. And there will no longer be waters from a great flood to wipe away all that is flesh
Psalm 25
1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. To you, Lord, I have lifted up my soul2In you, my God, I trust. Let me not be put to shame3And do not let my enemies laugh at me. For all who remain with you will not be confounded4May all those who act unjustly over nothing be confounded. O Lord, demonstrate your ways to me, and teach me your paths5Direct me in your truth, and teach me. For you are God, my Saviour, and I remain with you all day long6O Lord, remember your compassion and your mercies, which are from ages past7Do not remember the offenses of my youth and my ignorances. Remember me according to your mercy, because of your goodness, O Lord8The Lord is sweet and righteous. Because of this, he will grant a law to those who fall short in the way9He will direct the mild in judgment. He will teach the meek his ways10All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to those who yearn for his covenant and his testimonies11Because of your name, O Lord, you will pardon my sin, for it is great12Which is the man who fears the Lord? He has established a law for him, on the way that he has chosen13His soul will dwell upon good things, and his offspring will inherit the earth14The Lord is a firmament to those who fear him, and his covenant will be made manifest to them15My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pull my feet from the snare16Look upon me and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor17The troubles of my heart have been multiplied. Deliver me from my needfulness18See my lowliness and my hardship, and release all my offenses19Consider my enemies, for they have been multiplied, and they have hated me with an unjust hatred20Preserve my soul and rescue me. I will not be ashamed, for I have hoped in you21The innocent and the righteous have adhered to me, because I have remained with you22Free Israel, O God, from all his tribulations
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3.18-22
18For Christ also died once for our sins, the Just One on behalf of the unjust, so that he might offer us to God, having died, certainly, in the flesh, but having been enlivened by the Spirit19And in the Spirit, he preached to those who were in prison, going to those soul20who had been unbelieving in past times, while they waited for the patience of God, as in the days of Noah, when the ark was being built. In that ark, a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water21And now you also are saved, in a similar manner, by baptism, not by the testimony of sordid flesh, but by the examination of a good conscience in God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ22He is at the right hand of God, devouring death, so that we may be made heirs to eternal life. And since he has journeyed to heaven, the Angels and powers and virtues are subject to him
Gospel: Mark 1.12-15
12And immediately the Spirit prompted him into the desert13And he was in the desert for forty days and forty nights. And he was tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the Angels ministered to him14Then, after John was handed over, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God15and saying: "For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of promise, salvation, and mission. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's covenant with Noah, a promise of renewal after the flood, symbolized by the rainbow. This story reminds us of God's enduring faithfulness and the hope of new beginnings. The second reading from 1 Peter draws a parallel between the salvation of Noah's family through water and our salvation through baptism, highlighting the transformative power of faith. The Gospel from Mark describes Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and the beginning of his ministry, illustrating his commitment to God's will and the call to repentance.
These readings are interconnected through the themes of covenant and salvation. Noah's covenant represents God's promise to humanity, while Jesus' journey symbolizes the fulfillment of that promise through his ministry. The connection between the flood and baptism underscores the idea of salvation as a divine act that transforms and renews. The wilderness temptation shows Jesus overcoming challenges, setting an example for us to face our own trials with faith.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's promises, especially during difficult times. Just as Noah trusted God's plan and Jesus endured temptation, we are called to live out our faith with courage and hope. The moral lesson here is one of renewal and trust—reminding us that through our baptism, we are called to a life of faith and service, living as children of God, and sharing the Good News with the world.