Daily Readings - Tue Feb 15 2022
James
12Blessed is the man who suffers temptation. For when he has been proven, he shall receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him13No one should say, when he is tempted, that he was tempted by God. For God does not entice toward evils, and he himself tempts no one14Yet truly, each one is tempted by his own desires, having been enticed and drawn away15Thereafter, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. Yet truly sin, when it has been consummated, produces death16And so, do not choose to go astray, my most beloved brothers17Every excellent gift and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor any shadow of alteration18For by his own will he produced us through the Word of truth, so that we might be a kind of beginning among his creatures
Mark
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 profound lessons about temptation, perception, and trust in God's providence. The first reading from James reminds us that temptation arises not from God but from our own desires, which can lead to sin and death. James encourages us to recognize that every good gift comes from God, who is unchanging and true. The Gospel from Mark finds the disciples preoccupied with their lack of bread, prompting Jesus to warn them against the "leaven of the Pharisees and Herod," urging them to trust in God's provision and to seek spiritual understanding beyond material concerns.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our spiritual perception. James calls us to discern the true source of temptation and to seek God's wisdom, while Mark's Gospel highlights the disciples' limited vision and Jesus' call to deeper faith. These passages remind us that our struggles with sin and doubt are not about external circumstances but about the state of our hearts. Just as the disciples needed to move beyond their focus on bread, we must look beyond our immediate worries and trust in God's plan.
In our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I allowing my desires to lead me astray? How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's providence? Let us seek to grow in spiritual awareness, remembering that every good gift comes from God, and that true life is found in following His will. May we, like the disciples, learn to see beyond the surface and to trust in the Lord who provides for us in ways we cannot yet understand.