Daily Readings - Thu Feb 14 2019
Genesis
18Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."19So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.20The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.21So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.22And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.23Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."24Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.25And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Mark
24And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.25But immediately a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.26Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.27And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."28But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."29And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."30And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of partnership, faith, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of Eve, the first woman, and the establishment of marriage as a sacred union between man and woman. Adam, upon seeing Eve, exclaims joyfully, recognizing her as bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. This passage emphasizes the deep bond of marriage, where two individuals become one flesh, united in love and mutual support. It also reminds us that human beings are not meant to be alone; we are created for relationship and companionship.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of partnership—one between Jesus and a persistent Gentile woman. This woman, a Syrophoenician by birth, humbly approaches Jesus, pleading for her daughter’s healing despite the cultural and religious barriers that separate them. Her faith and determination are rewarded when Jesus praises her words and grants her request, freeing her daughter from the unclean spirit. This passage highlights the power of faith and the boundless mercy of God, who hears the cries of all people, regardless of their background.
Both readings remind us of the importance of relationships in our lives. In Genesis, we see the sacred bond of marriage as a reflection of God’s love for humanity. In Mark’s Gospel, we witness the transformative power of faith and humility in bridging even the widest divides. As we go about our daily lives, let us cherish the relationships that God has given us, whether in marriage, family, or friendship. Let us also approach God with the same persistence and humility as the Syrophoenician woman, trusting in His love and mercy to bring healing and unity to our lives. May we, like Adam and Eve, recognize the sacredness of the bonds we share, and may we, like the woman in the Gospel, never lose faith in God’s ability to transform even the most difficult circumstances.