Daily Readings for January 17, 2015

1ST READING

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony of Egypt, a man who gave himself over to a life of monasticism probably before the age of 20 and lived to be 105. He is one of the longest serving clerics in the Church, having served as a monk for 85 years. His writings on monastic life have guided the same for the last 1,600 years and thus, his immense influence on the life of the Church. Yet all Anthony sought was to live a simple life of obedience to God’s will. This is what we should all do.

Hebrews 4:12-16

12 The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. 14 Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

P S AL M

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

7[8] The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 8[9] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) 9[10] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) 14[15] Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (R)

GOSPEL

How else can the Gospel be proclaimed to sinners except by befriending them and spending time with them? Jesus was not afraid of being with sinners as though sin was some sort of contagious disease that needed to be avoided at all times. Sin is not to be trifled with but it has no power over those who do not give in to it. We all need to go where the Spirit leads us as we seek to share the Good News of salvation with as many people as we possibly can.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives.

Mark 2:13-17

13 Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. 14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. 15 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

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Daily Readings for January 16, 2015

1ST READING

The greatest failure of the People of Israel was perhaps their lack of trust in God. They demanded for a king because they looked at their neighbors and saw that the nations with kings were powerful and free. It worked out for Israel with David and Solomon but their kings went downhill fast after that. Only Hezekiah and perhaps one or two others were remotely worthy of the title. The rest were as corrupt as corrupt can be. It is always better to put our trust in the Lord, and not in men. We need to trust one another but let this trust always be built on the knowledge that those we trust have themselves put their trust in the Lord.

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11

1 Let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. 2 For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestor did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened. 3 For we who believed enter into that rest, just as he has said: As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter into my rest,” and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world. 4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works; 5 and again, in the previously mentioned place, “They shall not enter into my rest.” 11 Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.

P S AL M

Psalm 78: 3, 4, 6-7, 8

R: Do not forget the works of the Lord!

3 What we have heard and know, and what our fathers have declared to us, 4 we will declare to the generation to come: The glorious deeds of the Lord and his strength. (R) 6 That they too may rise and declare to their sons 7that they should put their hope in God, and not forget the deeds of God but keep his commands. (R) 8And not be like their fathers, a generation wayward and rebellious, a generation that kept not its heart steadfast nor its spirit faithful toward God. (R)

GOSPEL

Here is a group of people who believes that Jesus can help them and nothing, not even the roof of a house, is going to stop them from putting their problem before Jesus. This is the type of faith that moves mountains. We should pray that our faith will reach to this level so that nothing will get in our way of doing what God wants us to do. Let us never lose sight of the call to increase our faith in Christ and rely less and less upon our own strength. It is the wisdom and strength of God that will help us overcome our difficulties.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

Mark 2:1-12

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. 2 Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” 8 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” 11 he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” 12 He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Daily Readings for January 15, 2015

1ST READING

One of the dangers a person of faith faces is having hardness of heart. This happens when we tolerate sin in our lives. This is the way sin normally works — the devil has a foot in the door with a small sin and then the whole door is forced open with a bigger sin. Let us keep our hearts and minds in love with God so that the devil will never have the opportunity to tear us from our faith.

Hebrews 3:7-14

7 The Holy Spirit says: Oh, that today you would hear his voice, 8 “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works 10 for forty years. Because of this I was provoked with that generation and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart, and they do not know my ways.’ 11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter into my rest.’” 12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. 13 Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. 14 We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.

P S AL M

Psalm 95:6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. (R) Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (R) 10 Forty years I was wearied of that generation; I said: This people’s heart goes astray, they do not know my ways. 11 Therefore I swore in my anger: “They shall not enter into my rest.” (R)

GOSPEL

God wants the best for us. However, His best is not always that easy to discern because we are clouded by the pressures of the world and inordinate desires. We need to be careful that we do not desire that which would not be good for us in the long term. We should trust that God knows and desires the best for us. Let us try to work with His will and not just our own.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

Mark 1:40-45

40 A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 44 Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 45 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Daily Readings for January 14, 2015

1ST READING

Jesus’ own suffering on the cross enables Him to help those who suffer. Jesus knows what it is like to suffer as a human person — He is like us in all things except sin. Christ’s becoming man is an incredible gift precisely because of this. We should never allow ourselves to forget the price He paid in coming to redeem us from our sins. It was for us, not for Himself, that He died on the cross. He did not deserve to die; we do! He did not deserve to suffer; we ought to have been punished for our sins. It is God’s love that gave Him the strength to come and redeem us.

 Hebrews 2:14-18

14 Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. 16 Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; 17 therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

P S AL M

Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

 R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! 4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations — 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

GOSPEL

Solitude is an important element of our faith. We need to reflect at greater length on what God is saying to us. We fill our lives with so many things that we often lose sight of the fact that what really matters is that we listen to and obey God’s Word. We can do this only if we regularly set time aside from our busyness and seek out His will for our lives.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

Mark 1:29-39

29 On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” 39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com

Daily Readings for January 13, 2015

1ST READING

Christ forsakes the glory of heaven for a time to be with us here on earth. Jesus knows that this is His Father’s will and entrusts this time and whatever goes with it to His will. We need to pray for the same level of surrender to the Father’s will that Jesus had. It is easy to obey the will of God when everything is going well; it is during difficult times, the times of suffering, that our faith will be tested. We need to strengthen our faith during the easy times so that we will have the courage to endure the difficult ones.

Hebrews 2:5-12

5 It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 Instead, someone has testified somewhere: What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, 8 subjecting all things under his feet. In “subjecting” all things to him, he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” 9 but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 12 saying: I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

P S AL M

Psalm 8:2, 5, 6-7, 8-9

R: You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

1 [2] O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! 4 [5] What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) 5 [6] You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 [7] You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. (R) 7 [8] All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, 8 [9] the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus speaks with authority because He speaks the truth. When someone is not speaking the truth, it may still be attractive but that is where it ends – it will not be authoritative. The speaker will have to resort to all kinds of trickery and deceit to convince you to follow him. This is why the Gospel has power when it is lived and proclaimed. Thisis why the voices of terror in the world have to shout louder to be heard, as they are not speaking the truth.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.

Mark 1:21-28

21 Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com