Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 9, 2024
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
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on themes of division and healing. The First Reading from 1 Kings recounts the prophet Ahijah's encounter with Jeroboam, where the kingdom is divided—ten tribes to Jeroboam and one remaining with Solomon. This division, a consequence of turning away from God, underscores the fracturing of unity and the complexities of human disobedience. The historical context reveals the political and spiritual turmoil following Solomon's reign, setting the stage for a fractured kingdom.
The Gospel, from Mark, shifts our focus to an act of profound healing. Jesus encounters a deaf and mute man, and through intimate, physical gestures, restores his hearing and speech. This miracle is not just a physical healing but a spiritual one, symbolizing the restoration of communication between God and humanity. The crowd's amazement and disobedience in spreading the news highlight the transformative power of faith and the irresistible nature of God's grace.
These readings contrast division with healing, reminding us that amidst life's fractures, God offers restoration. In a world often marked by division, we are called to seek healing and unity. Just as Jesus reached out to the man, we too can experience God's touch, mending our brokenness. The moral lesson here is one of hope and unity—through faith, we can overcome division and find wholeness in God. Let us strive to be instruments of healing, bringing unity and God's grace to a world in need.