Daily Readings - Fri Feb 10 2023
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 encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the human condition and God's redemptive love. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where temptation and disobedience lead to the Fall. The serpent's cunning and the couple's choice to eat the forbidden fruit introduce sin into the world, resulting in their awareness of nakedness and subsequent hiding from God. This story sets the stage for understanding humanity's inherent frailty and the need for divine mercy.
The Gospel from Mark presents a stark contrast with the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Through this miracle, Jesus restores the man's ability to hear and speak, symbolizing the spiritual healing He offers to all. This passage highlights Jesus' compassion and power, demonstrating His role as the one who brings light and wholeness to a world affected by sin.
These readings remind us that while sin separates us from God, Jesus offers healing and restoration. In our daily lives, we are called to acknowledge our own vulnerabilities and trust in God's plan. Just as the deaf man was healed through faith, we too can experience spiritual renewal by turning to Jesus. Let us embrace this healing with open hearts, trusting in God's mercy and allowing His grace to transform us.