Daily Readings - Wed Feb 08 2023
Genesis
4These are the generations of heaven and earth, when they were created, in the day when the Lord God made heaven and earth5and every sapling of the field, before it would rise up in the land, and every wild plant, before it would germinate. For the Lord God had not brought rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the land6But a fountain ascended from the earth, irrigating the entire surface of the land7And then the Lord God formed man from the clay of the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul8Now the Lord God had planted a Paradise of enjoyment from the beginning. In it, he placed the man whom he had formed9And from the soil the Lord God produced every tree that was beautiful to behold and pleasant to eat. And even the tree of life was in the midst of Paradise, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil15Thus, the Lord God brought the man, and put him into the Paradise of enjoyment, so that it would be attended and preserved by him16And he instructed him, saying: "From every tree of Paradise, you shall eat17But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. For in whatever day you will eat from it, you will die a death.
Mark
14And again, calling the crowd to him, he said to them: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand15There is nothing from outside a man which, by entering into him, is able to defile him. But the things which proceed from a man, these are what pollute a man16Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.17And when he had entered into the house, away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him about the parable18And he said to them: "So, are you also without prudence? Do you not understand that everything entering to a man from outside is not able to pollute him19For it does not enter into his heart, but into the gut, and it exits into the sewer, purging all foods.20"But," he said "the things which go out from a man, these pollute a man21For from within, from the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders22thefts, avarice, wickedness, deceitfulness, homosexuality, an evil eye, blasphemy, self-exaltation, foolishness23All these evils proceed from within and pollute a man.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey from the creation story in Genesis to Jesus' teachings in Mark, exploring the nature of sin and purity. Genesis describes the idyllic Garden of Eden, where God places Adam and Eve, warning them against eating from the tree of knowledge. This passage highlights the origin of sin and the choice between obedience and knowledge. Mark's Gospel shifts focus to Jesus' teaching that defilement comes not from external sources but from within. He lists evils such as adulteries and murders, emphasizing that these emerge from the heart.
These readings connect by illustrating that sin is an internal matter. Genesis shows the initial temptation and fall, while Mark underscores that true impurity arises from our thoughts and intentions. Together, they remind us that our spiritual state is determined by our inner world.
In daily life, this teaches us to reflect on our thoughts and motivations. Rather than focusing solely on outward actions, we must cultivate inner purity. The moral lesson is clear: our hearts must be pure, for it is from within that sin emerges. By tending to our inner lives, we align with God's will and live a life of true integrity.