Daily Readings for February 7, 2015

1ST READING

The author of this letter exhorts us to always remember to do good. It is in doing good that we incarnate the Gospel message in the world and give witness to Jesus’ solidarity with humanity. Jesus walked the earth for only 30 years, but He will continue to walk the earth until the end through His disciples. It is our privilege and duty to be the instruments by which He continues to stand in solidarity with mankind.

Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21

15 Brothers and sisters: Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. 17 Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you. 20 May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the Blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, 21 furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

P S A L M

Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose. Beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus feels sorry for the people who are like sheep without a shepherd. This shows God’s compassion to His people. This is an indictment on the religious leaders of Israel. They failed in their responsibility to care for the people, probably because they were not in solidarity with the poor, and many of them enriched themselves with worldly goods rather than the fruits of the Kingdom of God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Mark 6:30-34

30 The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. 32 So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 33 People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. 34 When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

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