Daily Readings - Sat Feb 11 2023
Genesis
9But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"10He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."11And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"12The man said, "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."13Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."14So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."16To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."17To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'"Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."20Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.21The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.22And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."23So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.24After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Mark
1During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,2"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."4His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"5"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied.6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so.7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away,10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments in Scripture that invite us to reflect on human frailty, divine mercy, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, where their desire for knowledge and autonomy led to separation from God. This narrative reminds us of the universal human experience of sin and its consequences. The Gospel, from Mark, shifts our gaze to Jesus, who, moved by compassion for a hungry crowd, multiplies seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed over four thousand people. This miracle not only satisfies physical hunger but also points to the deeper spiritual nourishment Jesus offers.
The connection between these readings lies in their exploration of human need and God’s response. In Genesis, Adam and Eve’s fear and hiding reveal the brokenness caused by sin, yet God’s mercy is evident in His continued care for them, even as He expels them from the Garden. In Mark, Jesus addresses the physical and spiritual hunger of the crowd, demonstrating His divine power and His role as the Bread of Life. Together, these passages remind us that while sin separates us from God, His love and provision are always available to restore and sustain us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how they apply to our lives. Like Adam and Eve, we often face temptations and struggles that lead us away from God. Yet, like the crowd in the Gospel, we are invited to trust in Jesus’ compassion and abundance. In our daily lives, this means acknowledging our weaknesses, seeking forgiveness, and turning to God for the grace we need. It also calls us to imitate Jesus’ mercy by caring for others, especially those in need. May we find strength in God’s providence and strive to live as people of faith, hope, and love.