Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 11, 2022
First Reading: 1 Kings 11.29-32; 12.19
29About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country,30and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.31Then he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give you ten tribes.32But for the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe.
19So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
Psalm 81
1Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!2Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.3Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;4this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.5He established it as a statute for Joseph when he went out against Egypt, where we heard a language we did not understand.6He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.7In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah8"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you- if you would but listen to me, O Israel!9You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.11"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.13"If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways,14how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!15Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.16But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
Gospel: Mark 7.31-37
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 first reading from 1 Kings recounts the prophet Ahijah’s encounter with Jeroboam, where he tears his cloak into twelve pieces, symbolizing the division of the kingdom of Israel. This act signifies God’s judgment on King Solomon, who had turned away from the Lord. The kingdom is split: ten tribes go to Jeroboam, while the remaining two, including Jerusalem, stay with Solomon’s descendants. This moment marks a turning point in Israel’s history, highlighting the consequences of sin and the fulfillment of God’s plan. The Gospel from Mark tells the story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. Through a compassionate and intimate gesture, Jesus restores the man’s hearing and speech, demonstrating His divine power and mercy. The crowd’s amazement and willingness to spread the news despite Jesus’ request for silence show the irresistible impact of God’s grace.
Both readings, though separated by time and context, share a common thread: the revelation of God’s plan and the response of humanity. In the first reading, the tearing of the cloak represents the division caused by sin, while in the Gospel, the healing represents the unity and restoration brought by Christ. The prophet Ahijah’s action is a call to repentance, while Jesus’ miracle is a call to faith. Together, they remind us that God’s ways are not always easy to understand, but they are always rooted in love and justice.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to God’s call. Like Jeroboam, we may face moments of choice that can lead to division or unity. Like the deaf and mute man, we may feel isolated or unable to express ourselves, but Christ stands ready to heal and restore us. Let us approach God with humility and trust, seeking His healing touch in our brokenness. May we, like the crowd in the Gospel, be moved to share the good news of God’s love, even when it challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. Through faith and obedience, may we become instruments of unity and healing in a world often marked by division.