Thursday, January 28, 2016

Daily Readings for January 28, 2016

1ST READING

David is not upset about God’s decision to leave the building of the temple to the next king. Maybe he was even relieved to have been spared from overseeing the construction of such a grand structure. David’s obedience is a stark contrast to the disobedience that plagued Saul’s reign as king. As Samuel said, obedience is greater than sacrifice, and this is the example that David provides for his people and for us.

2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
18 After Nathan had spoken to King David, the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members  of my house, that you have brought me to this point? 19 Yet even this you see as too little, Lord God; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord God! 24 “You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. 25 And now, Lord God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised. 26 Your name will be forever great, when men say, ‘The Lord of hosts is God of Israel,’ and the house of your servant David stands firm before you. 27 It is you, Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you. 28 And now, Lord God, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. 29 Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord God, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.”


P S A L M

Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14

R: The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

1 Lord, remember David and all his anxious care; 2 how he swore an oath to the Lord, vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob. (R) 3 “I will not enter the house where I live nor lie on the couch where I sleep; 4 I will give my eyes no sleep, my eyelids no rest, 5 till I find a home for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (R) 11 The Lord swore an oath to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.” (R) 12 “If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, Their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne.” (R) 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. 14 “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.” (R)


GOSPEL

St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the greatest intellects the Church has known. He has summarized Church doctrine in the 12th century, and his synthesis was so comprehensive it formed the basis for the Church’s teaching for the next 800 years. Today there is a wider range of knowledge available to us, but many of them still rely on Aquinas’s thought. Just as Thomas placed his intellect at the service of the Gospel and allowed his light to shine, so should we do with the gifts God has given us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

Mark 4: 21-25
21 Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. 23 Anyone who has ears to hear ought to  hear.” 24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”




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