Daily Readings - Thu Feb 11 2021
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 relationship, trust, and God’s providence. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the story of the creation of Eve, the first woman, as a companion for Adam. This passage emphasizes the beauty of human relationship and the complementarity of man and woman, created in the image and likeness of God. It also highlights the importance of partnership and mutual support in human life. The account of Adam and Eve reminds us that we are not meant to be alone but to live in communion with others, reflecting the communal nature of God Himself.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of relationship—that between Jesus and a Gentile woman from Syro-Phoenicia. This woman, desperate to save her daughter from a demon, approaches Jesus with persistence and humility. Despite initial hesitation from Jesus, her faith and trust in His power prevail, and her daughter is healed. This story shows us that God’s love is not limited to one group of people but extends to all, and it challenges us to have the same kind of bold and trusting faith in God’s providence, even when the odds seem against us.
Both readings remind us of the importance of relationships and trust in our lives. Just as Adam found a helper in Eve, and just as the Syro-Phoenician woman trusted in Jesus’ power, we too are called to cultivate relationships of love and support, and to place our trust in God’s plan for us. In a world that often values independence and self-reliance, these readings invite us to embrace our need for one another and to approach God with humility and perseverance. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s goodness and to build relationships that reflect His love and care for all people.