Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 16, 2023
First Reading: Genesis 9.1-13
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.
Psalm 102
1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.2Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.5Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.12But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:19"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."21So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.23In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days.24So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.26They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.27But you remain the same, and your years will never end.28The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."
Gospel: Mark 8.27-33
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.