Daily Readings - Thu Feb 14 2019
Genesis
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.25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Mark
24And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.25For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:26The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.27But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.28And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.29And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.30And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of partnership, faith, and the transformative power of love. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of Eve, the first woman, and the establishment of marriage as a sacred union between man and woman. Adam, upon seeing Eve, exclaims joyfully, recognizing her as bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. This passage emphasizes the deep bond of marriage, where two individuals become one flesh, united in love and mutual support. It also reminds us that human beings are not meant to be alone; we are created for relationship and companionship.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of partnership—one between Jesus and a persistent Gentile woman. This woman, a Syrophoenician by birth, humbly approaches Jesus, pleading for her daughter’s healing despite the cultural and religious barriers that separate them. Her faith and determination are rewarded when Jesus praises her words and grants her request, freeing her daughter from the unclean spirit. This passage highlights the power of faith and the boundless mercy of God, who hears the cries of all people, regardless of their background.
Both readings remind us of the importance of relationships in our lives. In Genesis, we see the sacred bond of marriage as a reflection of God’s love for humanity. In Mark’s Gospel, we witness the transformative power of faith and humility in bridging even the widest divides. As we go about our daily lives, let us cherish the relationships that God has given us, whether in marriage, family, or friendship. Let us also approach God with the same persistence and humility as the Syrophoenician woman, trusting in His love and mercy to bring healing and unity to our lives. May we, like Adam and Eve, recognize the sacredness of the bonds we share, and may we, like the woman in the Gospel, never lose faith in God’s ability to transform even the most difficult circumstances.