Daily Readings - Thu Feb 11 2021
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 relationship, trust, and God’s providence. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of Eve, the first woman, as a companion for Adam. This passage emphasizes the beauty of human relationship and the complementarity of man and woman, created in the image and likeness of God. It also highlights the importance of partnership and mutual support in human life. The account of Adam and Eve reminds us that we are not meant to be alone but to live in communion with others, reflecting the communal nature of God Himself.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of relationship—that between Jesus and a Gentile woman from Syro-Phoenicia. This woman, desperate to save her daughter from a demon, approaches Jesus with persistence and humility. Despite initial hesitation from Jesus, her faith and trust in His power prevail, and her daughter is healed. This story shows us that God’s love is not limited to one group of people but extends to all, and it challenges us to have the same kind of bold and trusting faith in God’s providence, even when the odds seem against us.
Both readings remind us of the importance of relationships and trust in our lives. Just as Adam found a helper in Eve, and just as the Syro-Phoenician woman trusted in Jesus’ power, we too are called to cultivate relationships of love and support, and to place our trust in God’s plan for us. In a world that often values independence and self-reliance, these readings invite us to embrace our need for one another and to approach God with humility and perseverance. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s goodness and to build relationships that reflect His love and care for all people.