Daily Readings - Tue Feb 12 2019
Genesis
20And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.22God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."23And there was evening, and there was morning-the fifth day.24And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.26Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.28God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."29Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food." And it was so.31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.3And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.4This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-
Mark
1The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and2saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed.3(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.4When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. )5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"6He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.7They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."9And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!10For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God),12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.13Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the creation story in Genesis and witness a pivotal moment in Mark's Gospel where Jesus confronts the Pharisees about their traditions.
The first reading from Genesis recounts the culmination of creation, where God brings forth land animals and humanity, culminating in the sacred rest of the seventh day. This passage underscores God's deliberate and purposeful creation, emphasizing the inherent dignity of all life and the sanctity of rest. The creation story invites us to marvel at God's wisdom and to respect the balance and order He has established in the world.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees for prioritizing human traditions over God's commandments. He criticizes their focus on rituals like hand-washing while neglecting the heart of the law, such as honoring one's parents. This confrontation highlights the tension between outward practices and inward devotion, reminding us that true faith must be rooted in love and sincerity rather than mere observance.
These readings remind us to balance our spiritual practices with genuine faith. While traditions can enrich our worship, they should never overshadow the core teachings of love and justice. Let us reflect on our own practices, ensuring they lead us closer to God and His will, rather than becoming ends in themselves. In doing so, we honor both the beauty of creation and the call to live with hearts true to God's commandments.