Daily Readings - Fri Feb 14 2025
Genesis
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,3but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"4"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.5"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.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.
Mark
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 profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the human condition and the divine response to our frailties. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Adam and Eve, where temptation leads to disobedience, resulting in their separation from God. This passage is foundational, illustrating the origin of sin and humanity's subsequent state of alienation. The second reading from Mark presents a vivid miracle where Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, restoring his ability to hear and speak. This act underscores Jesus' role as a restorer of creation, bridging the gap caused by sin.
The Genesis narrative sets the stage for understanding the human condition, marked by vulnerability to temptation and the consequences of sin. Adam and Eve's choice to eat the forbidden fruit leads to shame and hiding, symbolizing humanity's spiritual separation from God. In contrast, the Mark passage highlights Jesus' compassionate authority, demonstrating His power to heal and restore. By touching the man's ears and tongue, Jesus not only heals his physical ailments but also restores his connection to community and communication, symbolizing spiritual healing.
These readings invite us to recognize our own vulnerabilities and the need for divine grace. Just as Adam and Eve faced temptation, we too encounter challenges that test our faith. Yet, in Jesus, we find the healer who restores our spiritual hearing and speech, enabling us to communicate with God and others. The moral lesson here is the call to trust in Jesus' power to heal our sins and weaknesses. Through faith, we can overcome our spiritual deafness and muteness, allowing us to live as His disciples, speaking and acting with renewed purpose.