Daily Readings - Sat Feb 11 2023
Genesis
9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Mark
1In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.10And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments in Scripture that invite us to reflect on human frailty, divine mercy, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, where their desire for knowledge and autonomy led to separation from God. This narrative reminds us of the universal human experience of sin and its consequences. The Gospel, from Mark, shifts our gaze to Jesus, who, moved by compassion for a hungry crowd, multiplies seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed over four thousand people. This miracle not only satisfies physical hunger but also points to the deeper spiritual nourishment Jesus offers.
The connection between these readings lies in their exploration of human need and God’s response. In Genesis, Adam and Eve’s fear and hiding reveal the brokenness caused by sin, yet God’s mercy is evident in His continued care for them, even as He expels them from the Garden. In Mark, Jesus addresses the physical and spiritual hunger of the crowd, demonstrating His divine power and His role as the Bread of Life. Together, these passages remind us that while sin separates us from God, His love and provision are always available to restore and sustain us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how they apply to our lives. Like Adam and Eve, we often face temptations and struggles that lead us away from God. Yet, like the crowd in the Gospel, we are invited to trust in Jesus’ compassion and abundance. In our daily lives, this means acknowledging our weaknesses, seeking forgiveness, and turning to God for the grace we need. It also calls us to imitate Jesus’ mercy by caring for others, especially those in need. May we find strength in God’s providence and strive to live as people of faith, hope, and love.