Daily Readings - Sun Jun 09 2024
Genesis
8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.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."
2 Corinthians
13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Mark
20Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.21When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."23So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.27In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."30He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."31Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."33"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!35Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of sin, hope, and redefined family, guiding us to reflect on our spiritual lives and communities.
The first reading from Genesis recounts the fall of Adam and Eve, where fear and blame follow their disobedience. This story introduces sin into the world, highlighting the consequences of turning away from God. It reminds us that sin creates division, not just between humanity and God, but also within ourselves and our relationships.
The second reading from Corinthians offers hope amidst struggles. Paul encourages endurance, focusing on eternal glory over temporary hardships. This passage reminds us to trust in God's plan, even when facing challenges, and to find strength in our faith. It bridges the gap between the fallen state in Genesis and the redemption offered through Christ.
In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus facing accusations and redefining family. Jesus' teachings emphasize that true family is those who follow God's will, highlighting the importance of spiritual community. His words about the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit caution against rejecting God's grace, urging us to remain open to the Spirit's work in our lives.
These readings together invite us to acknowledge our sinfulness, trust in God's grace, and build a spiritual family. Let us face our shortcomings honestly, trust in God's plan, and nurture our spiritual communities, remembering that true strength lies in faith and unity.