Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 8, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 1.1-19
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.
Psalm 104
1Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.5He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.6You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.7At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.8The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.9You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.10You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;11they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.13From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.14You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth15and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.16The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.18The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.19He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.20You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about.21The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.22When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.23Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.24O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.26There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.27These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.28When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.29When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.30When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.34May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.35Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Mark 6.53-56
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.