Daily Readings - Fri Feb 14 2025
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 the divine response to our frailties. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where temptation leads to disobedience, resulting in their separation from God. This passage is foundational, illustrating the origin of sin and humanity's subsequent state of alienation. The second reading from Mark presents a vivid miracle where Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, restoring his ability to hear and speak. This act underscores Jesus' role as a restorer of creation, bridging the gap caused by sin.
The Genesis narrative sets the stage for understanding the human condition, marked by vulnerability to temptation and the consequences of sin. Adam and Eve's choice to eat the forbidden fruit leads to shame and hiding, symbolizing humanity's spiritual separation from God. In contrast, the Mark passage highlights Jesus' compassionate authority, demonstrating His power to heal and restore. By touching the man's ears and tongue, Jesus not only heals his physical ailments but also restores his connection to community and communication, symbolizing spiritual healing.
These readings invite us to recognize our own vulnerabilities and the need for divine grace. Just as Adam and Eve faced temptation, we too encounter challenges that test our faith. Yet, in Jesus, we find the healer who restores our spiritual hearing and speech, enabling us to communicate with God and others. The moral lesson here is the call to trust in Jesus' power to heal our sins and weaknesses. Through faith, we can overcome our spiritual deafness and muteness, allowing us to live as His disciples, speaking and acting with renewed purpose.