Daily Readings - Mon Feb 08 2021
Genesis
1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.4And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.6And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."7And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.8And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.9And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.10God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.11And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so.12The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.13And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.14And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,15and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so.16And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars.17And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,18to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.19And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
Mark
53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.54And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him55and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.56And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Sermon
In the first reading from Genesis, we witness the majestic account of creation, where God systematically brings order to chaos, creating light, separating waters, and forming land and vegetation. This narrative underscores God's deliberate and loving craftsmanship, establishing a world where life can thrive. The context of this passage is foundational, setting the stage for understanding God as the creator who values order and goodness.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus continuing God's creative work through healing. As Jesus arrives in Gennesaret, people bring their sick to him, and merely touching his garment restores their health. This highlights Jesus' role as a healer, extending God's care from creation into human lives. The context here is one of compassion and divine intervention, showing Jesus as an active force of God's love in the world.
Connecting these readings, we see a continuum of God's care—from creating the world to healing its inhabitants. This reminds us that God's work is ongoing, and we are called to participate in this mission of care. In our daily lives, we can trust in God's providence, just as the people trusted Jesus for healing. We are encouraged to serve others, emulating Jesus' compassion and thereby continuing God's creative and redemptive work.
The moral lesson here is one of trust and service. Trusting in God's plan allows us to face life's challenges with hope, knowing we are part of a larger narrative of love. Serving others, especially the vulnerable, reflects our commitment to God's ongoing work. Let us strive to be instruments of healing and hope, just as Jesus was, and find joy in participating in God's eternal plan.