Daily Readings - Mon Feb 10 2025
Genesis
1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.4And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.6And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."7And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.8And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.9And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.10God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.11And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so.12The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.13And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.14And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,15and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so.16And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars.17And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,18to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.19And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
Mark
53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.54And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him55and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.56And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s creative power and His enduring care for humanity. The first reading from Genesis describes the creation of the world, highlighting the order and beauty with which God brought light, land, and life into being. This passage reminds us that creation is not random but intentional, a reflection of God’s wisdom and love. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to Jesus, who continues God’s work of restoration by healing the sick and the suffering in the region of Genesaret. The people’s faith and persistence in seeking Jesus’ touch demonstrate the profound connection between human need and divine compassion.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both reveal God’s desire to bring wholeness and life to His creation. In Genesis, we see God forming the world with precision and purpose, while in Mark, we witness Jesus, the Son of God, extending that same creative power to heal and restore. Together, they remind us that God’s work is not limited to the beginning of time but continues in every moment through His Son. Just as the people of Genesaret sought Jesus’ healing touch, we too can approach Him with faith, trusting that He desires to bring light and life to our darkest and most broken places.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember that we are part of God’s ongoing creation. Each day, we are called to cooperate with His plan, bringing order to chaos and hope to despair. Just as the people in the Gospel carried their sick to Jesus, we can carry our burdens, our fears, and our doubts to Him, confident in His power to heal and transform. May we, like the creation story, see the goodness of God in all things and, like the healed in Mark’s Gospel, experience His touch that restores us to fullness of life. Let us trust in God’s providence and allow His light to shine through us, even in the darkest corners of our world.