Daily Readings - Sun Oct 07 2018
Genesis
7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Hebrews
9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Mark
2And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.3And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?4And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.5And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.10And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.11And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.12And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the sacred narrative of creation, the mystery of salvation, and the teachings of Jesus, each offering profound insights into God's plan for humanity. The first reading from Genesis recounts the creation of man and woman, highlighting their unity and complementary roles as stewards of God's creation. This passage underscores the deep bond between man and woman, established by God, and serves as the foundation for understanding the sacrament of marriage. The second reading from Hebrews illuminates Jesus's role in salvation, emphasizing his humility and sacrifice. It reminds us that Jesus, though divine, took on human form to sanctify us, demonstrating the depth of God's love. In the Gospel, Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of marriage, citing Genesis, and teaches about the innocence and humility required to enter the Kingdom of God.
These readings are intricately connected, as they all point to the unity and love that God intends for His creation. The Genesis narrative provides the theological basis for Jesus's teaching on marriage, showing that the union of man and woman is part of God's original design. Hebrews complements this by highlighting Jesus's role in restoring humanity's relationship with God, which is mirrored in the fidelity and love expected in marriage. Together, these readings invite us to reflect on the nature of relationships and our call to live in unity and love.
In our daily lives, these teachings challenge us to cherish and uphold the sanctity of marriage, fostering fidelity, respect, and self-giving love. They also remind us of the importance of humility and innocence, qualities that allow us to approach God with openness and trust. As we navigate our relationships and spiritual journeys, may we draw inspiration from these readings to live with greater love, humility, and faithfulness, striving to reflect God's love in all we do.