Daily Readings - Wed Feb 15 2023

⁶And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:⁷And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.⁸Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;⁹But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.¹⁰And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;¹¹And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.¹²And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.¹³And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.²⁰And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.²¹And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.²²While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Mark

Chapter 8

²²And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.²³And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.²⁴And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.²⁵After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.²⁶And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter stories of transformation and renewal, each offering insights into God's grace and our response to it. The first reading from Genesis describes the aftermath of the flood, where Noah releases a raven and a dove to ascertain if the earth is habitable again. The dove's return with an olive branch signifies peace and new life, leading Noah to build an altar in gratitude. This act marks the beginning of a covenant between God and humanity, a promise of mercy and renewal. The Gospel from Mark narrates the healing of a blind man in Bethsaida. Jesus' method is unusual—using spit and a gradual process to restore sight. This miracle underscores Jesus' divine power and His approach to healing, which often involves patience and trust. The man's initial partial vision, followed by complete clarity, mirrors our own spiritual journeys, where understanding and faith develop over time. Both stories highlight themes of trust and transformation. Noah's patience and faith in God's plan, despite the uncertainty of the flood's aftermath, teach us to trust in divine providence. The blind man's healing reminds us that spiritual enlightenment is a process requiring openness and perseverance. In our lives, we may face periods of uncertainty or darkness, but these readings assure us that God is always present, offering renewal and hope. Let us embrace the journey, trusting in God's plan and remaining open to His transformative grace.