Daily Readings - Sat Feb 13 2021
Genesis
9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"10And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."11He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"12The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."14The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."16To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."17And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."20The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.21And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.22Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever--"23therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.24He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Mark
1In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them,2"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.3And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away."4And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?"5And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."6And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.7And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.8And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.9And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.10And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human condition and God’s response to our needs, both physical and spiritual. In the first reading from Genesis, we witness the aftermath of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Their sin leads to separation from God, but even in judgment, there is a glimmer of hope. God’s mercy is evident as He provides clothing for Adam and Eve and promises enmity between the serpent and the woman, foreshadowing redemption. This passage reminds us that sin has consequences, but God’s love and care for His creation endure.
In the Gospel, Mark presents a miracle that echoes God’s providence in the Old Testament. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowd’s hunger, multiplies seven loaves and a few fish to feed over four thousand people. This act of mercy not only satisfies their physical hunger but also points to the deeper spiritual nourishment He offers. Like the crowd, we often find ourselves in situations of scarcity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Jesus’ response teaches us to trust in God’s abundance and to seek Him in our needs.
These readings call us to recognize our own vulnerabilities and limitations, just as Adam and Eve acknowledged their sin, and the crowd acknowledged their hunger. They remind us that God’s mercy is always at work, even in the midst of our struggles. Let us turn to Him with humility and trust, knowing that He will provide for us in ways we cannot fully understand. May we also imitate Christ’s compassion by caring for one another’s needs, whether big or small, and may we always remember that true satisfaction comes from Him alone.