Daily Readings - Mon Feb 06 2023
Genesis
1In the beginning, God created heaven and earth2But the earth was empty and unoccupied, and darknesses were over the face of the abyss; and so the Spirit of God was brought over the waters3And God said, "Let there be light." And light became4And God saw the light, that it was good; and so he divided the light from the darknesses5And he called the light, ‘Day,’ and the darknesses, ‘Night.’ And it became evening and morning, one day6God also said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide waters from waters.7And God made a firmament, and he divided the waters that were under the firmament, from those that were above the firmament. And so it became8And God called the firmament ‘Heaven.’ And it became evening and morning, the second day9Truly God said: "Let the waters that are under heaven be gathered together into one place; and let the dry land appear." And so it became10And God called the dry land, ‘Earth,’ and he called the gathering of the waters, ‘Seas.’ And God saw that it was good11And he said, "Let the land spring forth green plants, both those producing seed, and fruit-bearing trees, producing fruit according to their kind, whose seed is within itself, over all the earth." And so it became12And the land brought forth green plants, both those producing seed, according to their kind, and trees producing fruit, with each having its own way of sowing, according to its species. And God saw that it was good13And it became evening and the morning, the third day14Then God said: "Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven. And let them divide day from night, and let them become signs, both of the seasons, and of the days and years15Let them shine in the firmament of heaven and illuminate the earth." And so it became16And God made two great lights: a greater light, to rule over the day, and a lesser light, to rule over the night, along with the stars17And he set them in the firmament of heaven, to give light over all the earth18and to rule over the day as well as the night, and to divide light from darkness. And God saw that it was good19And it became evening and morning, the fourth day
Mark
53And when they had crossed over, they arrived in the land of Genesaret, and they reached the shore54And when they had disembarked from the boat, the people immediately recognized him55And running throughout that entire region, they began to carry on beds those who had maladies, to where they heard that he would be56And in whichever place he entered, in towns or villages or cities, they placed the infirm in the main streets, and they pleaded with him that they might touch even the hem of his garment. And as many as touched him were made healthy
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the beginning of creation and witness the healing power of Jesus. The first reading from Genesis recounts the first four days of creation, where God systematically brings order to chaos, creating light, separating waters, forming land, and placing the sun, moon, and stars in the sky. This narrative emphasizes God's deliberate and purposeful creation, highlighting the intrinsic goodness of His work. Each day builds upon the last, demonstrating a divine plan and harmony in the universe.
The Gospel from Mark shifts our focus to Jesus, who continues God's redemptive work. Arriving in Genesaret, Jesus is met with faith-filled people seeking healing. They bring the sick to touch even the hem of His garment, and all who do so are healed. This passage underscores Jesus' role as the bearer of God's healing grace, extending the divine order and love seen in creation into a broken world.
These readings invite us to reflect on God's ongoing work in our lives. Just as creation was brought forth with purpose, our lives are part of a larger divine plan. We are called to trust in this plan and to be instruments of healing and light. Like the people in Genesaret, we can approach Jesus with faith, seeking His touch in our own lives and extending His healing presence to others. May we embrace our role in continuing God's work, bringing order and grace to a world in need.