Daily Readings - Fri Feb 12 2021
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
In today's readings, we reflect on the journey from separation to healing. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where temptation leads to the first sin, resulting in their awareness of nakedness and hiding from God. This narrative underscores the introduction of sin into humanity, highlighting our vulnerability and the consequences of disobedience.
The Gospel from Mark presents a stark contrast with the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Through compassionate and intimate gestures, Jesus restores the man's senses and speech, exemplifying His divine power and mercy. This miracle not only heals the physical ailment but also serves as a spiritual metaphor, illustrating Jesus' ability to heal the rift caused by sin.
These readings invite us to consider our own journey. Just as Adam and Eve faced temptation, we encounter challenges that test our faith. Yet, in Jesus, we find the promise of redemption and healing. Let us approach life with faith, trusting in God's power to transform our weaknesses into strengths. May we, like the healed man, proclaim God's goodness, living as witnesses to His grace and mercy.