Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 11, 2022
First Reading: 1 Kings 11.29-32; 12.19
29And it happened, in that time, that Jeroboam departed from Jerusalem. And the prophet Ahijah, the Shilonite, wearing a new cloak, found him on the way. And the two were alone in the field30And taking his new cloak, with which he was covered, Ahijah tore it into twelve parts31And he said to Jeroboam: "Take ten pieces for yourself. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give to you ten tribes32Yet one tribe shall remain with him, for the sake of my servant, David, as well as Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel
19And Israel drew away from the house of David, even to the present day
Psalm 81
1Unto the end. For the wine and oil presses. A Psalm of Asaph himself. Exult before God our helper. Sing joyfully to the God of Jacob2Take up a psalm, and bring forth the timbrel: a pleasing Psalter with stringed instruments3Sound the trumpet at the new moon, on the noteworthy day of your solemnity4for it is a precept in Israel and a judgment for the God of Jacob5He set it as a testimony with Joseph, when he went out of the land of Egypt. He heard a tongue that he did not know6He turned the burdens away from his back. His hands had been a slave to baskets7You called upon me in tribulation, and I freed you. I heard you within the hidden tempest. I tested you with waters of contradiction8My people, listen and I will call you to testify. If, O Israel, you will pay heed to me9then there will be no new god among you, nor will you adore a foreign god10For I am the Lord your God, who led you out of the land of Egypt. Widen your mouth, and I will fill it11But my people did not hear my voice, and Israel was not attentive to me12And so, I sent them away, according to the desires of their heart. They will go forth according to their own inventions13If my people had heard me, if Israel had walked in my ways14I would have humbled their enemies, as if it were nothing, and I would have sent my hand upon those who troubled them15The enemies of the Lord have lied to him, and their time will come, in every age16And he fed them from the fat of the grain, and he saturated them with honey from the rock
Gospel: Mark 7.31-37
31And again, departing from the borders of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the area of the Ten Cities32And they brought someone who was deaf and mute to him. And they begged him, so that he would lay his hand upon him33And taking him away from the crowd, he put his fingers into his ears; and spitting, he touched his tongue34And gazing up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: "Ephphatha," which is, "Be opened.35And immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke correctly36And he instructed them not to tell anyone. But as much as he instructed them, so much more did they preach about it37And so much more did they wonder, saying: "He has done all things well. He has caused both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.
Sermon
The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the prophet Ahijah’s encounter with Jeroboam, where he tears his cloak into twelve pieces, symbolizing the division of the kingdom of Israel. This act signifies God’s judgment on King Solomon, who had turned away from the Lord. The kingdom is split: ten tribes go to Jeroboam, while the remaining two, including Jerusalem, stay with Solomon’s descendants. This moment marks a turning point in Israel’s history, highlighting the consequences of sin and the fulfillment of God’s plan. The Gospel from Mark tells the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Through a compassionate and intimate gesture, Jesus restores the man’s hearing and speech, demonstrating His divine power and mercy. The crowd’s amazement and willingness to spread the news despite Jesus’ request for silence show the irresistible impact of God’s grace.
Both readings, though separated by time and context, share a common thread: the revelation of God’s plan and the response of humanity. In the first reading, the tearing of the cloak represents the division caused by sin, while in the Gospel, the healing represents the unity and restoration brought by Christ. The prophet Ahijah’s action is a call to repentance, while Jesus’ miracle is a call to faith. Together, they remind us that God’s ways are not always easy to understand, but they are always rooted in love and justice.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to God’s call. Like Jeroboam, we may face moments of choice that can lead to division or unity. Like the deaf and mute man, we may feel isolated or unable to express ourselves, but Christ stands ready to heal and restore us. Let us approach God with humility and trust, seeking His healing touch in our brokenness. May we, like the crowd in the Gospel, be moved to share the good news of God’s love, even when it challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. Through faith and obedience, may we become instruments of unity and healing in a world often marked by division.