Daily Readings - Tue Feb 07 2023
Genesis
20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.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,
Mark
1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.4And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Sermon
The first reading from Genesis describes the creation of the world, highlighting God’s deliberate and loving act of bringing life into being. We hear how God creates sea creatures, birds, land animals, and finally humanity, made in his own image and likeness. The passage emphasizes God’s satisfaction with creation, culminating in the rest on the seventh day, which is blessed and sanctified. This reading reminds us of the intrinsic dignity of all creation and humanity’s unique role as stewards of the earth. The context is foundational, setting the stage for understanding humanity’s relationship with God and the world.
The Gospel from Mark presents a contrast between outward religious practices and the heart of faith. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for prioritizing human traditions, such as ritual washings, over God’s commandments. He accuses them of honoring God with their lips while their hearts are far from him. This reading challenges us to examine our own practices and ensure that our faith is not reduced to empty rituals but flows from a genuine love for God and others. The context is one of tension between external observance and internal conversion.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on the balance between tradition and true faith. While rituals and practices can be meaningful, they must never overshadow the deeper call to love and relationship with God. In our daily lives, we are called to examine our own habits and priorities, ensuring that our actions flow from a heart that seeks God rather than merely following rules. Let us strive to live as stewards of creation, honoring God not just with our lips but with our lives, and to cultivate a faith that is both authentic and transformative.