6th Week in Ordinary Time
14th February 2023 (Tuesday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. Then the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.
Psalm 29:1a and 2, 3ac-4, 3b and 9c-10 (R. 11b)
R/. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Gospel : Mark 8:14-21
At that time: The disciples had forgotten to bring bread and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And Jesus cautioned them, saying, "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they began discussing with one another, the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Evil is pervasive!
Indicative: It is a fact that evil is on increase. There are many misguiding pressures and influences. We need to focus on Jesus and remain clear and firm{alertSuccess}
1. God “regretted” that he had made man on the earth, and His heart was “grieved”. This was the experience of God in Noah’s time. It was because man’s wickedness engulfed the whole earth. As it is said, the weight of sin was so unbearable that the earth was not able to bear it. Therefore, God decides to “revamp” the earth, wipe out the sinning creatures, and thus “lighten” the burden of the earth
2. In our times too, this is very true. Evil and wickedness are on a whirlwind tour. The earth is acutely engulfed in sin. Evil hardens and closes the hearts toward God’s works and wonders that are always active. Many have cognition power but do not recognise God’s presence and action. Many have memory power but do not remember them. Many have intellect but do not understand or comprehend. Many have eyes but do not see. Many have ears but do not hear.
3. Further, many easily allow themselves to be influenced and led astray by evil influences and temptations. They do not discern and decide. Jesus indicates this by the symbolism of the “leaven of the Pharisees and that of Herod”.
4. In such an evil prevalence, what must we do? Let us be like Noah. Even when all the rest were steeped in evil, Noah was found to be “truly just”. He did not allow himself to be contaminated by the dirt of the evil that surrounded him. He did not eat the bread, baked with the “leaven” of wickedness and falsity of others. He did not drown himself in the “flood” of sin. Rather, he was “floating” and sailing ahead amidst the flood in the “ark” of God’s grace.
5. Today too, for sure God must be regretting and grieving over humanity because of the increasing wickedness. Perhaps, the various natural calamities and disasters are strong indicators and consequences of this sin-infected flood. We need to guard and rise against such flood by getting into the “Ark” of faith and righteousness.
Imperative: God is both just and merciful. In His justice, He wants us to live justly, guarding ourselves against all the infection and ruin by sin. In His mercy, He wants to save us through the ark of faith {alertSuccess}