The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us that faith in Providence is the first step in our progress against chaos as the Spirit reveals a clearer view of our journey.
The reading from the Book of Genesis presents God’s Promise to Noah after the Flood.
* [8:7–12] In the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic, Utnapishtim (the equivalent of Noah) released in succession a dove, a swallow, and a raven. When the raven did not return, Utnapishtim knew it was safe to leave the ark. The first century A.D. Roman author Pliny tells of Indian sailors who release birds in order to follow them toward land.
* [8:13–14] On the first day of the first month, the world was in the state it had been on the day of creation in chap. 1. Noah had to wait another month until the earth was properly dry as in 1:9. (Genesis, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness.
* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida.
* [8:22–26] Jesus’ actions and the gradual cure of the blind man probably have the same purpose as in the case of the deaf man (Mk 7:31–37). Some commentators regard the cure as an intended symbol of the gradual enlightenment of the disciples concerning Jesus’ messiahship. (Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Eileen Wirth shares a message for all of us impatient, driven people. When we have problems, especially those involving other people that we are helpless to solve, we need to turn things over to God and wait for his plan to be revealed.
We can call for help and suggest how God respond – promptly—but God may have different ideas. Maybe what we learn from our trials will make us better people. A very perceptive psychologist once wrote that no one wants to suffer but it can break us open and make us wiser and more compassionate. Tough as it can be, we just have to trust God’s infinite wisdom, love and mercy.
Like Noah in today’s reading, we have to learn to live through our trials at God’s pace, not ours. Patience! (Wirth, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Through the divine word of Christ he received his sight,” attributed to Pseudo-Chrysostom, 5th century A.D.
"[Jesus] spat indeed, and put his hand upon the blind man, because he wished to show that wonderful are the effects of the Divine word added to action; for the hand is the symbol of working, but the spittle, of the word proceeding out of the mouth. Again he asked him whether he could see any thing, which he had not done in the case of any whom he had healed, thus showing that by the weak faith of those who brought him, and of the blind man himself, his eyes could not altogether be opened. There follows: 'And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees walking;' because he was still under the influence of unfaithfulness, he said that he saw men obscurely. From the commencement, however, of the return of his senses, he leads him to apprehend things by faith, and thus makes him see perfectly. He then goes on to say, After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes, and he began to see, and afterwards he adds, And he was restored, and saw all things clearly; he was perfectly healed in his senses and his intellect."
(excerpt from a Commentary on Mark 8:22-25, by an unknown early church father, who was thought for a time to be John Chrysostom (5 th century AD), now described as Pseudo-Chrysostom) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 comments that as the Lord had been faithful in the past, Noah and his family could trust him in the future. Facing life after the flood, they knew they needed God’s protection and direction just as much as before. And they knew they could trust that he would take care of them. So they dedicated themselves to the Lord.
You can do that, too. Imagine building an “altar” in your heart, a place where you can offer thanks to God and rededicate your life to him. You can praise God for his protection when you have been called to stand in the face of a storm. You can thank him for the strength he has given you to follow him over the years. And like Noah, you can dedicate yourself anew each day to the God who has been so faithful to you.
Each day is a new beginning. So take the time to offer this new day to the Lord and give thanks to him for his faithfulness!
“Lord, I come to you with thanks and praise today. I surrender my life once more to your loving protection!” (Meditation on Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22, 2025)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the promise of God and the symbol of the rainbow that the earth will never be destroyed by flood again. The flood in Genesis resonates with ancient legends of the time. Friar Jude comments on the connection of the fate of the disciples to the two interventions as a parable in the account of Jesus healing in Bethsaida.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces writer-activist Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove who shares how civil rights icon Vincent Harding encouraged the riders to honor their own stories and those of others.
I watched young white people on that freedom ride unpack their so-called privilege, questioning basic assumptions about success and faithfulness. Our liberation was tied to that of young undocumented sisters and brothers who were also questioning the American dream—how the future it promised did not include their own parents. A formerly incarcerated African American man stood tall, celebrating a newfound pride that he was the son of women and men who had shown America what freedom means…. (Rohr, n.d.)
We may be able, in these days, to identify with the hope of Noah for a sign that the chaos in the world was coming under control through our relationship with God and our faith in Divine restoration of our vision for a world of love, compassion, and truth.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/8?6
Mark, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/8?22
Meditation on Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22. (2025, February 19). The Word Among Us. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/02/19/1206424/
Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116?12
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Understanding Something New. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/understanding-something-new/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Blind Man Was Restored, and Saw Everything Clearly. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=feb19
Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/022019.html
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