Daily Readings - Wed Feb 13 2019
Genesis
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,5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.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.8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Mark
14And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.16If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.17And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.18And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of humanity, creation, and the source of sin. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of humanity and the Garden of Eden. God forms man from the earth and places him in a paradise filled with beauty and abundance. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil stand at the center, symbolizing the gift of life and the choice between obedience and disobedience. This passage reminds us that we are created in God’s image, called to care for creation, and given the freedom to choose between good and evil.
In the Gospel, Jesus shifts our focus from external purity to the inner heart. He teaches that it is not what enters from outside that defiles a person, but rather what comes out from within. Jesus lists the evils that flow from the human heart—such as greed, deceit, and murder—emphasizing that true defilement comes from our own sinful choices. This teaching challenges us to look inward, to examine our thoughts, desires, and actions, and to recognize that the root of sin lies within us.
These readings call us to live with integrity and self-awareness. Just as Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to care for the Garden, we too are called to tend to our own hearts. Let us ask ourselves: What are the “trees” in our lives—those choices and desires—that either lead us closer to God or away from Him? May we cultivate hearts of love, compassion, and honesty, so that the fruits of our lives may reflect the purity and grace of God’s creation.