Daily Readings - Tue Feb 12 2019
Genesis
20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Mark
1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.4And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the creation story in Genesis and witness a pivotal moment in Mark's Gospel where Jesus confronts the Pharisees about their traditions.
The first reading from Genesis recounts the culmination of creation, where God brings forth land animals and humanity, culminating in the sacred rest of the seventh day. This passage underscores God's deliberate and purposeful creation, emphasizing the inherent dignity of all life and the sanctity of rest. The creation story invites us to marvel at God's wisdom and to respect the balance and order He has established in the world.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees for prioritizing human traditions over God's commandments. He criticizes their focus on rituals like hand-washing while neglecting the heart of the law, such as honoring one's parents. This confrontation highlights the tension between outward practices and inward devotion, reminding us that true faith must be rooted in love and sincerity rather than mere observance.
These readings remind us to balance our spiritual practices with genuine faith. While traditions can enrich our worship, they should never overshadow the core teachings of love and justice. Let us reflect on our own practices, ensuring they lead us closer to God and His will, rather than becoming ends in themselves. In doing so, we honor both the beauty of creation and the call to live with hearts true to God's commandments.