Daily Readings - Tue Feb 14 2023
Genesis
5The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.6And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.7So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
1Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.2Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate,3and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.4For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground."5And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.10And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.
Mark
14Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.15And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."16And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.17And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?18Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve."20"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven."21And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
Sermon
The first reading from Genesis presents a somber scene of God’s sorrow over humanity’s corruption. The text describes how the wickedness of humanity grieved God’s heart, leading Him to decide to send a flood to cleanse the earth. Yet, amidst this judgment, Noah stands out as a righteous man who finds grace in God’s eyes. The passage then details God’s instructions to Noah to build an ark and save himself, his family, and representatives of every living creature. This narrative sets the stage for a story of destruction and salvation, highlighting the tension between God’s justice and His mercy.
The Gospel reading from Mark shifts the focus to Jesus’ interaction with His disciples. After forgetting to bring bread, the disciples begin to worry, and Jesus uses this moment to warn them against the “leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” This metaphor refers to the corrupting influence of hypocrisy and worldly power. Jesus then reminds the disciples of the miracles of the loaves—the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000—questioning why they still fail to understand the deeper spiritual reality at work. This exchange reveals the disciples’ spiritual blindness and Jesus’ patient yet persistent call to faith.
Both readings invite us to reflect on trust and perception. In Genesis, Noah’s obedience to God’s command, despite the enormity of the task, exemplifies unwavering faith in the face of uncertainty. Similarly, in Mark, Jesus calls the disciples—and us—to look beyond the surface of things and to trust in God’s providence. In our daily lives, we often face moments of doubt or confusion, but these readings remind us to remain vigilant against the “leaven” of sin and to trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems unclear. Let us strive to deepen our faith, just as Noah trusted God’s Word, and to see beyond the physical to the spiritual realities that truly sustain us.