Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 9, 2024
First Reading: 1 Kings 11.29-32; 12.19
29And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:30And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:31And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:32(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
19So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
Psalm 81
1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.7Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.12So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Gospel: Mark 7.31-37
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 distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on themes of division and healing. The First Reading from 1 Kings recounts the prophet Ahijah's encounter with Jeroboam, where the kingdom is divided—ten tribes to Jeroboam and one remaining with Solomon. This division, a consequence of turning away from God, underscores the fracturing of unity and the complexities of human disobedience. The historical context reveals the political and spiritual turmoil following Solomon's reign, setting the stage for a fractured kingdom.
The Gospel, from Mark, shifts our focus to an act of profound healing. Jesus encounters a deaf and mute man, and through intimate, physical gestures, restores his hearing and speech. This miracle is not just a physical healing but a spiritual one, symbolizing the restoration of communication between God and humanity. The crowd's amazement and disobedience in spreading the news highlight the transformative power of faith and the irresistible nature of God's grace.
These readings contrast division with healing, reminding us that amidst life's fractures, God offers restoration. In a world often marked by division, we are called to seek healing and unity. Just as Jesus reached out to the man, we too can experience God's touch, mending our brokenness. The moral lesson here is one of hope and unity—through faith, we can overcome division and find wholeness in God. Let us strive to be instruments of healing, bringing unity and God's grace to a world in need.