Daily Readings - Wed Feb 12 2025
Genesis
4This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-5and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground,6but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-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.8Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.9And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.15The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.16And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
Mark
14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"16Verse omitted from the New International Version17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'?19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey from the dawn of creation to the teachings of Jesus, exploring themes of purity and the human condition. The passage from Genesis paints a vivid picture of the Garden of Eden, where humanity's story begins. God forms man from the earth and places him in a paradise of abundance, with a single command: not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This narrative sets the stage for understanding humanity's relationship with divine authority and the nature of temptation.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shifts the focus from external rituals to the internal state of the heart. He challenges the Pharisees' emphasis on purity laws, asserting that true defilement comes not from what enters the body but from what flows out of the heart—such as greed, deceit, and envy. This teaching emphasizes that sin originates within, highlighting the need for inner transformation rather than mere external observance.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded that our spiritual journey is not about avoiding external temptations alone but about cultivating purity of heart. Like Adam in Eden, we face choices that test our obedience and trust in God. Jesus calls us to look inward, recognizing that our actions and decisions are rooted in the state of our hearts. As we navigate life's challenges, may we seek to align our inner lives with God's will, embracing the grace that transforms us from within. Let us strive to be gardens of Eden in our own lives, nurturing love, humility, and truth.