Daily Readings - Sun Oct 06 2024
Genesis
7the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.15The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.18The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."19Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.20So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.23The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, 'for she was taken out of man."24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Hebrews
9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Mark
2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"3"What did Moses command you?" he replied.4They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away."5"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied.6"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'7'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,8and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one.9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.11He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of relationships, marriage, and God’s plan for humanity. In the first reading from Genesis, we hear the beautiful account of creation, where God forms man and woman and establishes the union of marriage. Adam recognizes Eve as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” and the text emphasizes that the two become “one flesh.” This passage reminds us that marriage is not merely a human institution but a divine gift, rooted in God’s design for companionship and mutual support. The second reading from Hebrews shifts our focus to Jesus, who shares our humanity and sanctifies us through his Passion. It highlights the deep solidarity between Christ and his people, emphasizing that he is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the indissolubility of marriage, rejecting the idea of divorce and calling us to fidelity and perseverance in relationships.
These readings are deeply connected. The Genesis account provides the theological foundation for Jesus’ teaching on marriage, showing that the union of man and woman is part of God’s original plan. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees in the Gospel is not just a legal or cultural commentary but a return to the divine intent for marriage as a lifelong, unbreakable bond. The passage from Hebrews, meanwhile, reminds us that our relationships with one another—whether in marriage or in the broader family of faith—are transformed by Christ’s work of salvation. Through his Passion, Jesus has sanctified humanity, enabling us to live out our relationships in a way that reflects God’s love and fidelity.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reexamine our commitments and relationships. Marriage, as depicted in Genesis and reaffirmed by Jesus, is a sacred vocation that requires patience, forgiveness, and self-giving love. For those not married, the readings still speak to the importance of fidelity and perseverance in all relationships. We are reminded that every relationship—whether familial, marital, or communal—is a reflection of God’s love and a means of growing in holiness. Let us ask for the grace to live out our relationships with the same fidelity and love that Christ has shown us, trusting in his plan and design for our lives.