Daily Readings - Mon Feb 08 2021
Genesis
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.
Mark
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.