Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 21, 2019

First Reading: Genesis 9.1-13

¹Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.²The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands.³Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.⁴"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.⁵And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.⁶"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.⁷As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."⁸Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:⁹"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you¹⁰and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth.¹¹I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."¹²And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:¹³I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Psalm 102

Psalms

Chapter 102

¹Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.²Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.³For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.⁴My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.⁵Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.⁶I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.⁷I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.⁸All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.⁹For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears¹⁰because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.¹¹My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.¹²But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.¹³You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.¹⁴For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.¹⁵The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.¹⁶For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.¹⁷He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.¹⁸Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:¹⁹"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,²⁰to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."²¹So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem²²when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.²³In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days.²⁴So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.²⁵In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.²⁶They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.²⁷But you remain the same, and your years will never end.²⁸The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."

Gospel: Mark 8.27-33

Mark

Chapter 8

²⁷Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"²⁸They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."²⁹"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "³⁰Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.³¹He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.³²He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.³³But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments in the history of God's relationship with humanity. The first reading from Genesis describes the covenant God establishes with Noah after the flood, a promise of renewal and protection, symbolized by the rainbow. This covenant extends not just to Noah and his family but to all living creatures, emphasizing God's universal care and the sacredness of life. The Gospel reading from Mark presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, where he reveals his identity as the Christ and begins to teach his disciples about the necessity of his suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter's reaction and Jesus' rebuke highlight the tension between human understanding and divine will. The context of these readings reveals God's enduring commitment to humanity. In Genesis, the flood represents a reset, a fresh start, with God pledging never again to destroy the earth in such a way. This covenant is a testament to God's mercy and faithfulness. In Mark, Jesus' conversation with his disciples marks a turning point, as he shifts from his public ministry to preparing his followers for the reality of his mission. Peter's resistance to the idea of suffering reflects our own struggles to accept the cross in our lives. These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and our willingness to embrace His plan. Like Noah, we are called to trust in God's promises, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Like Peter, we may resist the idea of sacrifice, but Jesus reminds us that true discipleship requires taking up our cross and following Him. In our daily lives, this means aligning our will with God's, even when it challenges our desires or comforts. The moral lesson here is clear: to live as children of God, we must embrace both the beauty of His promises and the demands of His call.