Daily Readings - Mon Feb 11 2019
Genesis
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.13And the evening and the morning were the third day.14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Mark
53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,55And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two profound moments in Scripture: the creation of the world and the healing ministry of Jesus. The first reading from Genesis 1:1-19 presents the majestic account of God bringing order to chaos, creating light, separating waters, and bringing forth life. This passage reminds us of God's power and intentionality in creation, establishing the foundation of our faith. The Gospel from Mark 6:53-56 shifts our focus to Jesus, who, through compassionate touch, heals the sick. This passage highlights Jesus' role as a healer, emphasizing His care for the afflicted and the faith of those seeking His touch.
These readings, though separated by time, are connected by the theme of God's transformative power. In Genesis, God transforms chaos into a vibrant world, while in Mark, Jesus transforms suffering into health. Both narratives illustrate God's desire to bring wholeness and life to His creation. This connection invites us to reflect on how God's creative and redemptive work continues in our lives today.
Applying these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's providence and seek His presence in our needs. Just as the people in Mark sought Jesus for healing, we can approach God with faith, trusting in His care. Let us recognize God's hand in creation and in our personal journeys, seeking His touch to bring light and healing to our lives. May we, like those healed by Jesus, embrace the transformative power of God with gratitude and faith.