Daily Readings - Thu Feb 16 2023
Genesis
1Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.2The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands.3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.4"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.5And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.6"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.7As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:9"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you10and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth.11I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."12And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:13I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Mark
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"28They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine interaction and human response. The first reading from Genesis describes God's covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood, symbolized by the rainbow. This covenant underscores the sanctity of life and God's commitment to His creation. The second reading from Mark presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, followed by Jesus' prediction of His passion and Peter's subsequent rebuke, which Jesus meets with a stern reminder to align with divine will over human understanding.
These readings connect through the theme of covenant and faith. In Genesis, God establishes a covenant of protection and renewal, while in Mark, Jesus reveals the nature of His mission, calling His followers to embrace the cross. Both narratives challenge us to trust in God's promises, even when they lead to unexpected or difficult paths.
In our daily lives, we are invited to reflect on our own faith journey. Like Noah, we must trust in God's promises, even when the future seems uncertain. Like Peter, we may stumble when God's will doesn't align with our expectations, but we are called to move beyond human limitations and embrace God's plan. Let us consider where we might be called to greater trust and self-denial, aligning our will with God's, and finding the courage to follow Him, even in the face of suffering. May we, like the rainbow, become signs of hope and renewal in a world in need.