Daily Readings - Wed Feb 12 2025
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 dawn of creation to the teachings of Jesus, exploring themes of purity and the human condition. The passage from Genesis paints a vivid picture of the Garden of Eden, where humanity's story begins. God forms man from the earth and places him in a paradise of abundance, with a single command: not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This narrative sets the stage for understanding humanity's relationship with divine authority and the nature of temptation.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shifts the focus from external rituals to the internal state of the heart. He challenges the Pharisees' emphasis on purity laws, asserting that true defilement comes not from what enters the body but from what flows out of the heart—such as greed, deceit, and envy. This teaching emphasizes that sin originates within, highlighting the need for inner transformation rather than mere external observance.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded that our spiritual journey is not about avoiding external temptations alone but about cultivating purity of heart. Like Adam in Eden, we face choices that test our obedience and trust in God. Jesus calls us to look inward, recognizing that our actions and decisions are rooted in the state of our hearts. As we navigate life's challenges, may we seek to align our inner lives with God's will, embracing the grace that transforms us from within. Let us strive to be gardens of Eden in our own lives, nurturing love, humility, and truth.