Daily Readings - Sun Oct 06 2024
Genesis
7then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.15The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.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.
Hebrews
9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.10For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.11For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
Mark
2And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"3He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"4They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."5And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.6But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'7'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,8and they shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.9What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."10And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.11And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of relationships, marriage, and God’s plan for humanity. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the beautiful account of creation, where God forms man and woman and establishes the union of marriage. Adam recognizes Eve as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” and the text emphasizes that the two become “one flesh.” This passage reminds us that marriage is not merely a human institution but a divine gift, rooted in God’s design for companionship and mutual support. The second reading from Hebrews shifts our focus to Jesus, who shares our humanity and sanctifies us through his Passion. It highlights the deep solidarity between Christ and his people, emphasizing that he is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the indissolubility of marriage, rejecting the idea of divorce and calling us to fidelity and perseverance in relationships.
These readings are deeply connected. The Genesis account provides the theological foundation for Jesus’ teaching on marriage, showing that the union of man and woman is part of God’s original plan. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees in the Gospel is not just a legal or cultural commentary but a return to the divine intent for marriage as a lifelong, unbreakable bond. The passage from Hebrews, meanwhile, reminds us that our relationships with one another—whether in marriage or in the broader family of faith—are transformed by Christ’s work of salvation. Through his Passion, Jesus has sanctified humanity, enabling us to live out our relationships in a way that reflects God’s love and fidelity.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reexamine our commitments and relationships. Marriage, as depicted in Genesis and reaffirmed by Jesus, is a sacred vocation that requires patience, forgiveness, and self-giving love. For those not married, the readings still speak to the importance of fidelity and perseverance in all relationships. We are reminded that every relationship—whether familial, marital, or communal—is a reflection of God’s love and a means of growing in holiness. Let us ask for the grace to live out our relationships with the same fidelity and love that Christ has shown us, trusting in his plan and design for our lives.