Daily Readings - Wed Feb 19 2025

⁶And when forty days had passed, Noah, opening the window that he had made in the ark, sent forth a raven⁷which went forth and did not return, until the waters were dried up across the earth⁸Likewise, he sent forth a dove after him, in order to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth⁹But when she did not find a place where her foot might rest, she returned to him in the ark. For the waters were upon the whole earth. And he extended his hand and caught her, and he brought her into the ark¹⁰And then, having waited a further seven days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark¹¹And she came to him in the evening, carrying in her mouth an olive branch with green leaves. Noah then understood that the waters had ceased upon the earth¹²And nevertheless, he waited another seven days. And he sent forth the dove, which no longer returned to him¹³Therefore, in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were diminished upon the earth. And Noah, opening the cover of the ark, gazed out and saw that the surface of the earth had become dry²⁰Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. And, taking from each of the cattle and birds that were clean, he offered holocausts upon the altar²¹And the Lord smelled the sweet odor and said: "I will no longer curse the earth because of man. For the feelings and thoughts of the heart of man are prone to evil from his youth. Therefore, I will no longer pierce every living soul as I have done²²All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, will not cease.

Mark

Chapter 8

²²And they went to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to him. And they petitioned him, so that he would touch him²³And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him beyond the village. And putting spit on his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he could see anything²⁴And looking up, he said, "I see men but they are like walking trees.²⁵Next he placed his hands again over his eyes, and he began to see. And he was restored, so that he could see everything clearly²⁶And he sent him to his house, saying, "Go into your own house, and if you enter into the town, tell no one.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, patience, and the gradual unfolding of God's plan. The first reading from Genesis describes Noah's experience after the flood, where he waits patiently for the waters to recede. Noah's actions—sending out the raven and the dove—demonstrate his trust in God's promise. The dove's return with an olive branch is a symbol of hope and new life, leading Noah to build an altar and offer sacrifices in gratitude. This passage reminds us of the importance of patience and trust in God's timing, even in uncertain circumstances. The Gospel from Mark complements this theme with the story of the blind man healed by Jesus in Bethsaida. The healing is not instantaneous; it happens in stages. Jesus touches the man's eyes twice, and only after the second touch does the man see clearly. This narrative suggests that spiritual growth and healing can be gradual processes. Just as the blind man had to trust Jesus through the process, we too are called to trust in God's plan, even when the results are not immediate or clear. These readings encourage us to embrace patience and trust in our own lives. Like Noah, we may find ourselves in situations where we must wait for clarity or resolution. Like the blind man, we may experience growth in stages, with moments of partial understanding before full clarity comes. Let us learn to trust in God's timing and to remain faithful, even when the journey is slow or uncertain. In doing so, we open ourselves to the hope of new life and the promise of eventual clarity, just as Noah and the blind man experienced.