Daily Readings - Mon Feb 08 2021
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 the first reading from Genesis, we witness the majestic account of creation, where God systematically brings order to chaos, creating light, separating waters, and forming land and vegetation. This narrative underscores God's deliberate and loving craftsmanship, establishing a world where life can thrive. The context of this passage is foundational, setting the stage for understanding God as the creator who values order and goodness.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus continuing God's creative work through healing. As Jesus arrives in Gennesaret, people bring their sick to him, and merely touching his garment restores their health. This highlights Jesus' role as a healer, extending God's care from creation into human lives. The context here is one of compassion and divine intervention, showing Jesus as an active force of God's love in the world.
Connecting these readings, we see a continuum of God's care—from creating the world to healing its inhabitants. This reminds us that God's work is ongoing, and we are called to participate in this mission of care. In our daily lives, we can trust in God's providence, just as the people trusted Jesus for healing. We are encouraged to serve others, emulating Jesus' compassion and thereby continuing God's creative and redemptive work.
The moral lesson here is one of trust and service. Trusting in God's plan allows us to face life's challenges with hope, knowing we are part of a larger narrative of love. Serving others, especially the vulnerable, reflects our commitment to God's ongoing work. Let us strive to be instruments of healing and hope, just as Jesus was, and find joy in participating in God's eternal plan.