Daily Readings - Wed Feb 08 2023
Genesis
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.
Mark
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 journey from the creation story in Genesis to Jesus' teachings in Mark, exploring the nature of sin and purity. Genesis describes the idyllic Garden of Eden, where God places Adam and Eve, warning them against eating from the tree of knowledge. This passage highlights the origin of sin and the choice between obedience and knowledge. Mark's Gospel shifts focus to Jesus' teaching that defilement comes not from external sources but from within. He lists evils such as adulteries and murders, emphasizing that these emerge from the heart.
These readings connect by illustrating that sin is an internal matter. Genesis shows the initial temptation and fall, while Mark underscores that true impurity arises from our thoughts and intentions. Together, they remind us that our spiritual state is determined by our inner world.
In daily life, this teaches us to reflect on our thoughts and motivations. Rather than focusing solely on outward actions, we must cultivate inner purity. The moral lesson is clear: our hearts must be pure, for it is from within that sin emerges. By tending to our inner lives, we align with God's will and live a life of true integrity.