Daily Readings - Wed Feb 15 2023

⁶At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made⁷and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth.⁸Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground.⁹But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him.¹⁰He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.¹¹And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.¹²Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.¹³In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry.²⁰Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.²¹And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.²²While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

Mark

Chapter 8

²²And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.²³And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"²⁴And he looked up and said, "I see men, but they look like trees, walking."²⁵Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.²⁶And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter stories of transformation and renewal, each offering insights into God's grace and our response to it. The first reading from Genesis describes the aftermath of the flood, where Noah releases a raven and a dove to ascertain if the earth is habitable again. The dove's return with an olive branch signifies peace and new life, leading Noah to build an altar in gratitude. This act marks the beginning of a covenant between God and humanity, a promise of mercy and renewal. The Gospel from Mark narrates the healing of a blind man in Bethsaida. Jesus' method is unusual—using spit and a gradual process to restore sight. This miracle underscores Jesus' divine power and His approach to healing, which often involves patience and trust. The man's initial partial vision, followed by complete clarity, mirrors our own spiritual journeys, where understanding and faith develop over time. Both stories highlight themes of trust and transformation. Noah's patience and faith in God's plan, despite the uncertainty of the flood's aftermath, teach us to trust in divine providence. The blind man's healing reminds us that spiritual enlightenment is a process requiring openness and perseverance. In our lives, we may face periods of uncertainty or darkness, but these readings assure us that God is always present, offering renewal and hope. Let us embrace the journey, trusting in God's plan and remaining open to His transformative grace.