Daily Readings - Fri Feb 15 2019
Genesis
1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Mark
31And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.32And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.35And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human condition and God's redeeming love. In Genesis, we witness the fall of humanity through Adam and Eve's disobedience, as they succumb to the serpent's temptation. This act of rebellion leads to their awareness of sin and separation from God, a state that would persist until God's plan of redemption unfolds. In Mark's Gospel, we encounter a different kind of fall—the physical and spiritual suffering of a deaf and mute man. Jesus, with compassion and divine authority, heals him, restoring his ability to hear and speak, symbolizing the restoration of humanity's relationship with God.
The connection between these readings lies in the theme of redemption and healing. The fall in Genesis represents the fracturing of humanity's bond with God, while the healing in Mark signifies the beginning of that bond's restoration through Jesus. Both stories highlight the consequences of sin and the power of God's grace to overcome them. The man's healing is not just physical but also spiritual, as it allows him to fully engage with God's Word and community.
In our daily lives, we often face our own "falls"—moments of sin, doubt, or separation from God. Yet, like the man who was healed, we are called to trust in Jesus' power to restore us. Let us approach Him with faith, acknowledging our need for healing and renewal. May we, like the man, experience the transformative power of God's grace, and may our hearts and minds be opened to His love and truth. Through this, we participate in the ongoing story of redemption, drawing closer to God and living as witnesses of His healing power.