Daily Readings for January 16, 2017

1ST READING

Like us, the priests and the leaders of the Church are wounded healers. None of us have it all together. We are “works-in-progress” so to speak. Our shared humanity enables us to work together without judgment and competition. We cannot make it on our own so we need to help one another in our journey. Let us avoid putting anyone on a pedestal so that our focus remains on Jesus and no one else.

Hebrews 5:1-9

1 Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness 3 and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son; this day I have begotten you; 6 just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 7 In the days when he was in the Flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

P S A L M

Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4

R: You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

1 The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.” (R) 2 The scepter of your might: the Lord extends your strong scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies.” (R) 3 “Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.” (R) 4 The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (R)

GOSPEL

Why do people question the work of others? Why do the conservatives judge the new works of the Spirit by the old laws? People tend to be attracted to things that are known, and challenged and fearful of the unknown. God is always doing something new. Let us open our heart and mind to embrace new and different ways of living and proclaiming our faith.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Mark 2:18-22

18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. 22 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

Daily Readings for January 15, 2017

Feast of the Sto. Niño

1ST READING

The devotion to the Sto. Niño is one of the most popular devotions in the Philippines. This is a good devotion but we must be careful that we do not lose focus on Jesus. One of the distractions that the devil uses is to keep our faith immature and prevent us from living as adult Christians. A strong devotional life is fine as long as it encourages us to make a difference.

Isaiah 9:1-6

1 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. 2 You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. 3 For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. 4 For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. 5 For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. 6 His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

P S A L M

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.

1 Sing a new song to the Lord who has done marvelous deeds; whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his victory known; triumph for the nations to see. 3 He has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 4 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth; break into song; sing praise. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the Lord. (R)

2ND READING

The magnificence and glory of the Father’s gift of His Son to us is the focus of the first three chapters of the Letter to the Ephesians. As we remember the gift of the Christ at Christmas, we are called to a deep reverence and awe for His unfolding mission. His ministry began with His baptism and we are, thus, called to enter into the same ministry.

Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. 15 Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones.

GOSPEL

The feast of the Sto. Niño reflects the humility of Jesus when He became man like us. Let us witness to this truth by trusting God just as a child trusts his parents. This child-like faith enables us to be missionary disciples who do what God asks us to do.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

1 At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom or heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.

Daily Readings for January 14, 2017

1ST READING

Christians stand for the truth of the Gospel and morality. The world may think it can redefine the truth but it will always fail. Marriage, as understood by the Church, is and always will be between a man and a woman. Once the connection to the life-giving power of the sexual act is ignored, we are left with a union of two people that has lost the focus on the deepest aspect of who we are as a differentiated species.

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 A L 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

Jesus confronts traditional understandings especially when their essence is wrong. Jesus associates with sinners and even dines with them. We are all sinners and in need of redemption (Romans 3:20-23). Let us not judge and exclude certain sinners from the grace of salvation. Jesus refused to do this. We should follow His example.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and 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 Jesus 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.”

Daily Readings for January 13, 2017

1ST READING

As Christians, we have the same goal – eternal life. To reach this goal, we must work with one another and not against each other. Conversion is always a call to live in a community. We cannot live the fullness of our faith, even our human life, without other people. Let us build relationships with one another that will last.

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 ancestors 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 A L 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 7 that they should put their hope in God, and not forget the deeds of God but keep his commands. (R) 8 And 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

The friends of the paralytic knew that Jesus could heal their friend so they did everything to get him to Jesus. Are we committed in evangelizing our family and friends? This kind of deep faith is what we need in sharing the Gospel with others.

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.”

Daily Readings for January 12, 2017

1ST READING

As Christians, we must engage the world with God’s mercy and love and help others know Jesus as we do. This is evangelization — the work of God to convert people. A disciple of Jesus is a channel by which a person experiences first-hand the loving mercy of God.

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 A L 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, and I said: This people’s heart goes astray, they do not know my ways. 11 Therefore I swore in my anger: “They shall never enter my rest.” (R)

GOSPEL

Why are some people healed and others are not during the healing Mass? God works in mysterious ways. He knows what He is doing and His will is always the best for us. God is not impulsive or vindictive. When we suffer from sin at our own hands or the hands of other people, it is not God’s choice but ours that causes the suffering.

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.