Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 8, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 1.1-19
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.3And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.5God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.6And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.8God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning-the second day.9And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.10God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.11Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.13And there was evening, and there was morning-the third day.14And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,15and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so.16God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.19And there was evening, and there was morning-the fourth day.
Psalm 104
1Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.2He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent3and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.4He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.5He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.6You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.7But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;8they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.9You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.10He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.11They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.13He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.14He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate- bringing forth food from the earth:15wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.16The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.17There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees.18The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys.19The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.20You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.21The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.22The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens.23Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.24How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small.26There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.27These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.28When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.29When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.30When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-32he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.33I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.34May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.35But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 6.53-56
53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus.55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.56And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Sermon
In the first reading from Genesis, we witness the majestic account of creation, where God systematically brings order to chaos, creating light, separating waters, and forming land and vegetation. This narrative underscores God's deliberate and loving craftsmanship, establishing a world where life can thrive. The context of this passage is foundational, setting the stage for understanding God as the creator who values order and goodness.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus continuing God's creative work through healing. As Jesus arrives in Gennesaret, people bring their sick to him, and merely touching his garment restores their health. This highlights Jesus' role as a healer, extending God's care from creation into human lives. The context here is one of compassion and divine intervention, showing Jesus as an active force of God's love in the world.
Connecting these readings, we see a continuum of God's care—from creating the world to healing its inhabitants. This reminds us that God's work is ongoing, and we are called to participate in this mission of care. In our daily lives, we can trust in God's providence, just as the people trusted Jesus for healing. We are encouraged to serve others, emulating Jesus' compassion and thereby continuing God's creative and redemptive work.
The moral lesson here is one of trust and service. Trusting in God's plan allows us to face life's challenges with hope, knowing we are part of a larger narrative of love. Serving others, especially the vulnerable, reflects our commitment to God's ongoing work. Let us strive to be instruments of healing and hope, just as Jesus was, and find joy in participating in God's eternal plan.