Daily Readings - Fri Feb 12 2021
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
In today's readings, we reflect on the journey from separation to healing. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where temptation leads to the first sin, resulting in their awareness of nakedness and hiding from God. This narrative underscores the introduction of sin into humanity, highlighting our vulnerability and the consequences of disobedience.
The Gospel from Mark presents a stark contrast with the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Through compassionate and intimate gestures, Jesus restores the man's senses and speech, exemplifying His divine power and mercy. This miracle not only heals the physical ailment but also serves as a spiritual metaphor, illustrating Jesus' ability to heal the rift caused by sin.
These readings invite us to consider our own journey. Just as Adam and Eve faced temptation, we encounter challenges that test our faith. Yet, in Jesus, we find the promise of redemption and healing. Let us approach life with faith, trusting in God's power to transform our weaknesses into strengths. May we, like the healed man, proclaim God's goodness, living as witnesses to His grace and mercy.