Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 13, 2018
First Reading: James 1.12-18
12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Psalm 94
1O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!2Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!3O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?4They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.5They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.6They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless;7and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive."8Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?9He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?10He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge--11the LORD--knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.12Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,13to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.14For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;15for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.16Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?17If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.18When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.19When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.20Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute?21They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.22But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.23He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.
Gospel: Mark 8.14-21
14Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.15And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."16And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.17And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?18Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve."20"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven."21And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of temptation, spiritual understanding, and God's providence. The first reading from James reminds us that our struggles with sin arise from our own desires, not from God, who instead showers us with good gifts. The Gospel from Mark illustrates Jesus teaching his disciples to look beyond physical needs, using the metaphor of leaven to warn against hypocrisy and emphasizing spiritual understanding through reminders of his miracles.
Both readings, though from different contexts—James addressing early Christians facing trials and Mark depicting Jesus teaching his disciples—unite in their call for spiritual awareness. James highlights the internal battle with sin, while Mark's narrative shows the disciples' initial misunderstanding, urging us to seek deeper spiritual insights rather than being swayed by material concerns.
In our daily lives, this teaches us to recognize that our true battles are within and that God's gifts are always good. We are called to trust in His providence and seek spiritual growth, avoiding the leaven of hypocrisy and focusing on the eternal over the temporal. May we embrace this wisdom, striving to perceive the spiritual truths that guide us closer to God.