Daily Readings - Fri Feb 15 2019
Genesis
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,3but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"4"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.5"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Mark
31Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.32There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.33After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue.34He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ).35At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.36Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.37People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human condition and God's redeeming love. In Genesis, we witness the fall of humanity through Adam and Eve's disobedience, as they succumb to the serpent's temptation. This act of rebellion leads to their awareness of sin and separation from God, a state that would persist until God's plan of redemption unfolds. In Mark's Gospel, we encounter a different kind of fall—the physical and spiritual suffering of a deaf and mute man. Jesus, with compassion and divine authority, heals him, restoring his ability to hear and speak, symbolizing the restoration of humanity's relationship with God.
The connection between these readings lies in the theme of redemption and healing. The fall in Genesis represents the fracturing of humanity's bond with God, while the healing in Mark signifies the beginning of that bond's restoration through Jesus. Both stories highlight the consequences of sin and the power of God's grace to overcome them. The man's healing is not just physical but also spiritual, as it allows him to fully engage with God's Word and community.
In our daily lives, we often face our own "falls"—moments of sin, doubt, or separation from God. Yet, like the man who was healed, we are called to trust in Jesus' power to restore us. Let us approach Him with faith, acknowledging our need for healing and renewal. May we, like the man, experience the transformative power of God's grace, and may our hearts and minds be opened to His love and truth. Through this, we participate in the ongoing story of redemption, drawing closer to God and living as witnesses of His healing power.