Daily Readings for January 14, 2018

1ST READING

It is important that we respond to God’s call as Samuel does at the bidding of Eli. “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” is a commitment to listen to God’s will. His will is the only way to true fulfillment. The world will promise everything, especially pleasure, but will this make us happy? True happiness is deeper than passing pleasures. True happiness is obeying the will of God for us.

1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19

3 Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. 4 The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” 5 Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. 6 Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” 7 At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, 10 the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 19 Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

P S A L M

Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

1 [2] I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. 3 [4] And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or offering you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] then said I, “Behold I come.” (R) “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 8 [9] to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R)

2ND READING

Our body is an integral part of our identity. We need to understand our body’s nature when He created us and live accordingly so that we will live life to the full. Our body is a means for us to glorify God – let us pray to be faithful in doing this.

1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20

13 Brothers and sisters: The body is not for immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; 14 God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? 17 But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him. 18 Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.

GOSPEL

The dynamic of evangelization can be as simple as Andrew bringing Peter to Jesus to “see Him.” One-to-one evangelization within our networks is one of the most underestimated forms of spreading the Gospel today. It is simple but very effective when done well. Let us tap into our network of friends and see whom we need to share the Gospel with. After all, why would we want to deprive our friends of the gift of eternal life?

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ, who brings us truth and grace.

John1:35-42

35 John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” 37 The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —, “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ. 42 Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.