First Reading (Genesis 1,1-19).
Reading of the Book of Genesis.
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was desolate and empty, darkness covered the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. God said, “Let there be light!” And the light came. God saw that the light was good and separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” There was an afternoon and a morning: the first day. God said, “Let a firmament be made between the waters, separating them one from another.” And God made the expanse, and separated the waters that were below from those that were above the expanse. And so it was done. God called the firmament “heaven.” There was an afternoon and a morning: second day. God Said: “Let the waters under the sky come together in one place and the dry ground will appear!” And so it was done. The dry ground God called “earth” and the gathering of waters, “sea”. And God saw that it was good. God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation and seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to their kind, which have their seed in it upon the earth.” And so it was done. And the earth produced vegetation and plants bearing seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit having in it the seed of their kind. And God saw that it was good. There was an afternoon and a morning: the third day. God said: “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, the days and the years, and let them shine in the expanse of the sky and give light on the earth.” And so it was done. God made the two great lights: the greater light to preside over the day, and the lesser light to preside over the night, and the stars. God placed them in the expanse of heaven to give light to the earth, to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was an evening and a morning: the fourth day.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 6,53-56).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus and his disciples had just crossed the Sea of Galilee, they arrived at Gennesaret and tied up the boat. As soon as they got off the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. Traveling throughout that region, they took the sick lying in their beds to the place where they heard that Jesus was. And, in the towns, cities and fields where they arrived, they placed the sick in the squares and asked them to at least touch the hem of their clothes. And everyone who touched him was healed.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. These are the words that open the Holy Scriptures, that introduce us not only to the account of creation, but to the infinite mystery of God’s love, a love that gave rise to everything that exists. Today, as we reflect on the readings from Genesis and the Gospel of Mark, we are invited to contemplate both the grandeur of God the Creator and the intimate touch of God the Savior, who heals and restores our lives.
Imagine for a moment a blank screen, completely empty. Then an artist begins to paint with vivid colors, surprising shapes, and details that capture the beauty of life. This is the picture that Genesis presents to us: the creation of the world as God’s masterpiece, every element perfectly ordered, every detail made with purpose. The sky, the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the seas and the dry land – all created by the powerful word of God.
But Genesis is not just a scientific or historical account; it is a testimony to God’s creative love. He did not create the universe out of necessity, but out of generosity, so that we could exist and share His life. Each day of creation reveals an aspect of divine goodness: light separating from darkness, waters being gathered to make room for the earth, and stars being placed in the sky as signs of guidance and beauty. Every detail is a reminder that everything that exists was intended by God for good, for harmony, for life.
Now, let’s bring this vision to our own reality. How often do we stop to admire the starry sky, the heat of the sun or the sound of the ocean waves? In the rush of everyday life, we often neglect the beauty around us, forgetting that each element of creation is a gift from God, an invitation to praise and give thanks. May we open our eyes and hearts to see the Creator in His works, recognizing that everything around us is a reflection of His glory.
However, the Genesis account points us to something deeper: we are not just spectators of creation; we are part of it. We are created in the image and likeness of God, called to participate in His creative work, to care for the world He gave us. As stewards of creation, we are responsible for protecting and preserving what God called good. This includes the environment, but it also includes our relationships, our communities and our souls.
Turning now to the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus, the Son of God, walking among the people, touching their lives in a personal and transformative way. He crosses the sea, arrives on land and is immediately surrounded by crowds who bring their sick people to be healed. It is interesting to note that people believed in the power of Jesus so much that just touching His clothes was enough to restore health. What does this teach us about our faith?
The gospel crowds offer us a powerful lesson about hope and perseverance. They recognized in Jesus the presence of God, the One who not only created the world, but also cares about every detail of our existence. Just as God brought order to chaos at the beginning of creation, Jesus brought healing and restoration to broken lives.
Let us think for a moment about the touch of Jesus. How many of us seek that touch? How many of us bring our “sick” – our emotional wounds, our sins, our anxieties – before Him? Often, we are like those who wait on the side of the road, wanting just a moment of contact with divine grace. But unlike the crowd who had to travel long distances to reach Jesus, we have Him closer than we could ever imagine. He is present in our hearts, in the Eucharist, in the Word proclaimed, in the community gathered in His name.
And here is the beauty of connecting these two readings: the same God who created the heavens and the earth is the God who reached down to touch humanity. He who formed the stars with His word is the same one who, in Jesus, stretched out his hand to heal the sick and welcome the rejected. This connection reminds us that God is not just great and transcendent; It is also up close and personal.
There is a metaphor that can help us understand this relationship. Think of a sundial. During the day, it points us towards the sunlight, helping us measure time. But for it to work, it needs to be perfectly aligned with the light source. So too are our lives: we were created to reflect God’s light, but to do so, we need to be aligned with Him, turning our hearts to His presence.
So how can we apply these truths to our daily lives? First, we are called to an attitude of gratitude and praise. Let us recognize God’s goodness in everything around us, in things big and small. Second, let us be agents of healing in the world. Just as Jesus brought restoration to those who sought Him, we can also bring hope and comfort to those who suffer. A smile, a word of encouragement, an act of kindness – all of these can be a reflection of Jesus’ touch in people’s lives.
And finally, let us remember that we are part of creation and that God gave us a mission: to be guardians of the earth and witnesses of His love. This means caring for the environment, but it also means cultivating relationships of peace and justice, being a light to those around us.
As we close this reflection, may we remember that we are loved by the One who created the universe and who heals us in our fragility. No matter how chaotic our lives may seem, God is still in control, bringing order, beauty, and purpose. Let us trust in Him, seek His touch and live as sons and daughters of the Creator and Savior.
May God’s grace inspire us to live with gratitude, compassion and faith. Amen.
