Daily Readings - Mon Feb 10 2025
Genesis
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.13And the evening and the morning were the third day.14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Mark
53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,55And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s creative power and His enduring care for humanity. The first reading from Genesis describes the creation of the world, highlighting the order and beauty with which God brought light, land, and life into being. This passage reminds us that creation is not random but intentional, a reflection of God’s wisdom and love. The second reading from Mark’s Gospel shifts our focus to Jesus, who continues God’s work of restoration by healing the sick and the suffering in the region of Genesaret. The people’s faith and persistence in seeking Jesus’ touch demonstrate the profound connection between human need and divine compassion.
These readings are deeply connected, as they both reveal God’s desire to bring wholeness and life to His creation. In Genesis, we see God forming the world with precision and purpose, while in Mark, we witness Jesus, the Son of God, extending that same creative power to heal and restore. Together, they remind us that God’s work is not limited to the beginning of time but continues in every moment through His Son. Just as the people of Genesaret sought Jesus’ healing touch, we too can approach Him with faith, trusting that He desires to bring light and life to our darkest and most broken places.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember that we are part of God’s ongoing creation. Each day, we are called to cooperate with His plan, bringing order to chaos and hope to despair. Just as the people in the Gospel carried their sick to Jesus, we can carry our burdens, our fears, and our doubts to Him, confident in His power to heal and transform. May we, like the creation story, see the goodness of God in all things and, like the healed in Mark’s Gospel, experience His touch that restores us to fullness of life. Let us trust in God’s providence and allow His light to shine through us, even in the darkest corners of our world.