Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 10, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 2.4b-9, 15-17
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.
Psalm 104
1Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:3Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:4Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:5Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.6Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.7At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.8They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.9Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.10He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.11They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.12By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.13He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.16The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;17Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.18The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.19He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.23Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.26There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.28That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.31The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.32He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.33I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.34My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.35Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 7.14-23
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
In today's readings, we explore the theme of purity, both in creation and in our inner lives. The first reading from Genesis recounts the creation of humanity and the Garden of Eden, highlighting the pristine state of purity and harmony God intended for us. This passage reminds us of our special role as stewards of creation and the gift of free will, which brings both privilege and responsibility.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shifts the focus from external purity to internal purity. He teaches that it is not what enters our bodies that defiles us, but the evils that come from our hearts. This challenges us to look inward, recognizing that true purity is a matter of the heart, not just adherence to rules or rituals. Jesus lists various evils that emerge from within, such as greed, deceit, and envy, emphasizing that these are what truly corrupt us.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to examine our own hearts and actions. In a world often focused on external appearances, Jesus reminds us that true holiness begins within. Let us strive to cultivate virtues like love, compassion, and humility, allowing these to guide our actions and decisions. By focusing on inner purity, we can live more authentically as children of God, reflecting His love in all we do.