Daily Readings for January 24, 2015

1ST READING

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross ended the blood offerings at the Temple. Jesus’ death and resurrection cover all the sins of humanity, both past and present. His sacrifice is made at a particular point in time but it has a bearing for all time due to His divinity. Only Jesus can offer a sacrifice such as this one because He is both God and Man.

Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14

2 A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; this is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies. 11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, 12 he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, 14 how much more will the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

P S A L M

Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

1[2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, 2[3] For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. (R) 5[6] God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. 6[7] Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. (R) 7[8] For the king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. 8[9] God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. (R)

GOSPEL

Today we celebrate one of the great Reformation saints, Francis de Sales. He spent much of his time trying to convince the intellectuals and the rich of his time to remain with the Catholic faith and not convert to Protestantism. He also wrote many pamphlets defending the Catholic Church’s teachings on a variety of subjects. He was the right man in the right place at the right time. God knows what He is doing when He raises up saints. Let us be inspired by St. Francis de Sales and know more about our faith so that we will be able to defend it when questions arise.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.

Mark 3:20-21

20 Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

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