Jesus Restores A Demon Possessed Man

JANUARY 31, 2022, MONDAY
MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (Green)
MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 323

Reading I

2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

An informant came to David with the report,

“The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom.”

At this, David said to all his servants

who were with him in Jerusalem:

“Up!  Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom.

Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us,

then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword.”

As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing.

His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot.

All those who were with him also had their heads covered

and were weeping as they went.

As David was approaching Bahurim,

a man named Shimei, the son of Gera

of the same clan as Saul’s family,

was coming out of the place, cursing as he came.

He threw stones at David and at all the king’s officers,

even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard,

were on David’s right and on his left.

Shimei was saying as he cursed:

“Away, away, you murderous and wicked man!

The LORD has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul,

in whose stead you became king,

and the LORD has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom.

And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer.”

Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king:

“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?

Let me go over, please, and lop off his head.”

But the king replied: “What business is it of mine or of yours,

sons of Zeruiah, that he curses?

Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David;

who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’”

Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants:

“If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life,

how much more might this Benjaminite do so?

Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.

Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction

and make it up to me with benefits

for the curses he is uttering this day.”

David and his men continued on the road,

while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside,

all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

Responsorial Psalm

3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R.        (8a)  Lord, rise up and save me.

O LORD, how many are my adversaries!

            Many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me,

            “There is no salvation for him in God.”

R.        Lord, rise up and save me.

But you, O LORD, are my shield;

            my glory, you lift up my head!

When I call out to the LORD,

            he answers me from his holy mountain.

R.        Lord, rise up and save me.

When I lie down in sleep,

            I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

I fear not the myriads of people

            arrayed against me on every side.

R.        Lord, rise up and save me.

Alleluia

Lk 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst

and God has visited his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea,

to the territory of the Gerasenes.

When he got out of the boat,

at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him.

The man had been dwelling among the tombs,

and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.

In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains,

but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed,

and no one was strong enough to subdue him.

Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides

he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.

Catching sight of Jesus from a distance,

he ran up and prostrated himself before him,

crying out in a loud voice,

“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

I adjure you by God, do not torment me!”

(He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”)

He asked him, “What is your name?”

He  replied, “Legion is my name.  There are many of us.”

And he pleaded earnestly with him

not to drive them away from that territory.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.

And they pleaded with him,

“Send us into the swine.  Let us enter them.”

And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine.

The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea,

where they were drowned.

The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town

and throughout the countryside.

And people came out to see what had happened.

As they approached Jesus,

they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion,

sitting there clothed and in his right mind.

And they were seized with fear.

Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened

to the possessed man and to the swine.

Then they began to beg him to leave their district.

As he was getting into the boat,

the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.

But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead,

“Go home to your family and announce to them

all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”

Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis

what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Do you ever experience yourself being tormented by guilt from the past, by inability to do what you wish to do, or by fear of the future? Do you feel sometimes that you are living in a tomb, in a lifeless situation? If so, you can identify with the unfortunate demoniac. You may feel Jesus is at a distance, but run to him and beg him to liberate you. He wants you to be free and will heal you. Then you too can ‘go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you’.

PRAYER:

Lord, when I fear the forces of evil, in others or in myself, I remember that you took on the demons and defeated them. In you I have a Saviour against whom the devil is powerless.

Jesus Speaking at the Synagogue

JANUARY 30, 2022, SUNDAY
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 72

Reading I
Jer 1:4-5, 17-19

The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

            Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

                        before you were born I dedicated you,

                        a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

            But do you gird your loins;

                        stand up and tell them

                        all that I command you.

            Be not crushed on their account,

                        as though I would leave you crushed before them;

            for it is I this day

                        who have made you a fortified city,

            a pillar of iron, a wall of brass,

                        against the whole land:

            against Judah’s kings and princes,

                        against its priests and people.

            They will fight against you but not prevail over you,

                        for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17

R. (cf. 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.

In you, O LORD, I take refuge;

            let me never be put to shame.

In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;

            incline your ear to me, and save me.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Be my rock of refuge,

            a stronghold to give me safety,

            for you are my rock and my fortress.

O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

For you are my hope, O Lord;

            my trust, O God, from my youth.

On you I depend from birth;

            from my mother’s womb you are my strength.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

My mouth shall declare your justice,

            day by day your salvation.

O God, you have taught me from my youth,

            and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

R. I will sing of your salvation.

Reading 2
1 Cor 12:31—13:13

Brothers and sisters:

Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues,

but do not have love,

I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy,

and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;

if I have all faith so as to move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast,

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, it is not pompous,

It is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;

if tongues, they will cease;

if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,

think as a child, reason as a child;

when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,

but then face to face.

At present I know partially;

then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

OR: 

1 Cor 13:4-13

Brothers and sisters:

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, it is not pompous,

it is not inflated, it is not rude, 

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;

if tongues, they will cease;

if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,

think as a child, reason as a child;

when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,

but then face to face.

At present I know partially;

then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

Alleluia
Lk 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Lk 4:21-30

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. 

They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,

‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,

‘Do here in your native place

the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”

And he said, “Amen, I say to you,

no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you,

there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah

when the sky was closed for three and a half years

and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,

but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel

during the time of Elisha the prophet;

yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this,

they were all filled with fury.

They rose up, drove him out of the town,

and led him to the brow of the hill

on which their town had been built,

to hurl him down headlong.

But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Coming as Savior to visit his people, Jesus intends to lift their troubles from their shoulders - but effort is needed on their part too. He tells the townspeople of Nazareth that it’s not just a question of spectacle, of a show of miracles ‘on tap’ - a deep change of heart can be needed.

Jesus offers healing and help to all of us – but we ourselves must be open to allowing him to act in our lives.

PRAYER:

Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have not listened to people with unwelcome messages, and instead have judged them by association, by their families or hometown or trade or whatever.

Jesus Calms The Storm

JANUARY 29, 2022, SATURDAY
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 322

Reading I
2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,

Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!

In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.

The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.

But the poor man had nothing at all 

except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.

He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.

She shared the little food he had 

and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.

She was like a daughter to him.

Now, the rich man received a visitor, 

but he would not take from his own flocks and herds 

to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.

Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb 

and made a meal of it for his visitor.”

David grew very angry with that man and said to him: 

“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!

He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold 

because he has done this and has had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David:  “You are the man!

Thus says the LORD God of Israel:

‘The sword shall never depart from your house, 

because you have despised me 

and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’

Thus says the LORD:

‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.

I will take your wives while you live to see it, 

and will give them to your neighbor.

He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.

You have done this deed in secret, 

but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, 

and with the sun looking down.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:

you shall not die.

But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, 

the child born to you must surely die.”

Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, 

and it became desperately ill.

David besought God for the child.

He kept a fast, retiring for the night 

to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.

The elders of his house stood beside him 

urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, 

nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm
51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R.        (12a)  Create a clean heart in me, O God.

A clean heart create for me, O God,

            and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

            and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,

            and a willing spirit sustain in me.

I will teach transgressors your ways,

            and sinners shall return to you.

R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;

            then my tongue shall revel in your justice.

O Lord, open my lips,

            and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia
Jn 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,

so that it was already filling up.

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.

They woke him and said to him,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

He woke up,

rebuked the wind, 

and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”

The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Today’s Gospel story highlights the stormy journey our faith has to make today. How easily our sense of Jesus’ love and presence is drowned out by a multiplicity of voices. As a result, this lessening or loss of faith gives way to fear. At such times he may be asleep in the boat but his love never leaves us.

For your prayer talk to Jesus about how he may appear to be asleep but is awake and active in the way you accept, appreciate and care for those who people your day.

PRAYER:

Lord, there are times when I need to hear your voice ordering: ‘Peace! Be still!’ There is no basis for my fear. You are with me and I trust you. I need to turn away from the howling of the wind and disturbing noises, and wait for your comforting presence.

Parable of the Growing Seed

JANUARY 28, 2022, FRIDAY

MEMORIAL OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (White)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 321

Reading I

2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17

At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign,

David sent out Joab along with his officers

and the army of Israel, 

and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.

David, however, remained in Jerusalem.

One evening David rose from his siesta 

and strolled about on the roof of the palace.

From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.

David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, 

“She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, 

and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.”

Then David sent messengers and took her.

When she came to him, he had relations with her.

She then returned to her house.

But the woman had conceived, 

and sent the information to David, “I am with child.”

David therefore sent a message to Joab,

“Send me Uriah the Hittite.”

So Joab sent Uriah to David.

When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, 

and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.

David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.”  

Uriah left the palace, 

and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table.

But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace 

with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down 

to his own house.

David was told that Uriah had not gone home.

On the day following, David summoned him, 

and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk.

But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed 

among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home.

The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab

which he sent by Uriah.

In it he directed:

“Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce.

Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.”

So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah

to a place where he knew the defenders were strong.

When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, 

some officers of David’s army fell,

and among them Uriah the Hittite died.

Responsorial Psalm

51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11

R.        (see 3a)  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

            in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

            and of my sin cleanse me.

R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense,

            and my sin is before me always:

“Against you only have I sinned,

            and done what is evil in your sight.”

R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

I have done such evil in your sight

            that you are just in your sentence,

            blameless when you condemn.

True, I was born guilty,

            a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.

R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;

            the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.

Turn away your face from my sins,

            and blot out all my guilt.

R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Alleluia

See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;

you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:

“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,

for the harvest has come.”

He said,

“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,

or what parable can we use for it?

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,

is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants

and puts forth large branches,

so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

With many such parables

he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

Without parables he did not speak to them,

but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Much of life's biggest lessons and learnings come with patience. Faith, too, grows in the ebbs and flows of the lives of each of us. God is not impatient with our growth. God is the one who creates us from nothing and creates us each day of our lives. God grows love in us, so that adult love can shelter and comfort many others.

PRAYER:

Lord, your images of the kingdom are alive and organic. It has its own pattern of growth, a tiny plant that grows into a massive tree with room for every creature. Let me never imagine that I am the architect or builder of your kingdom. Enough for me to be patient, a seed growing slowly, animated by your spirit.

A Lamp On a Stand

JANUARY 27, 2022, THURSDAY
Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
Optional Memorial of Saint Angela Merici, Virgin (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 320

Reading I
2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29

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?

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!

“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, 

and you, LORD, have become their God.

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.

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.

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.

And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; 

you have made this generous promise to your servant.

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.”

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

R.        (Lk 1:32b)  The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

LORD, remember David

            and all his anxious care;

How he swore an oath to the LORD,

            vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.

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

“I will not enter the house where I live,

            nor lie on the couch where I sleep;

I will give my eyes no sleep,

            my eyelids no rest,

Till I find a home for the LORD,

            a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

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

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

“If your sons keep my covenant,

            and the decrees which I shall teach them,

Their sons, too, forever

            shall sit upon your throne.”

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

For the LORD has chosen Zion,

            he prefers her for his dwelling:

“Zion is my resting place forever;

            in her I will dwell, for I prefer her.”

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

 

Alleluia
Ps 119:105

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A lamp to my feet is your word,

a light to my path.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 4:21-25

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?

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; 

nothing is secret except to come to light.

Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

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.

To the one who has, more will be given; 

from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The lamp to be placed on the lamp stand is Jesus. He is the new revelation of God, replacing the lamp stands of traditional religion. The prophet is a lamp to the people. In our words and actions, the lamp of Jesus is still alight.

Do I allow the light of Christ shine out before others?

PRAYER: 

We offer to God in prayer the light of our minds and the love of our hearts. We acknowledge all the complexities that go with being human - the light and the dark.

The Parable of the Sower

JANUARY 26, 2022, WEDNESDAY
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 520/319

Reading I

2 Tm 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God

for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

to Timothy, my dear child:

grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father

and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God,

whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,

as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.

I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,

so that I may be filled with joy, 

as I recall your sincere faith

that first lived in your grandmother Lois

and in your mother Eunice

and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame

the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice

but rather of power and love and self-control.

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,

nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;

but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel

with the strength that comes from God.

OR:

Ti 1:1-5

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ

for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones

and the recognition of religious truth,

in the hope of eternal life 

that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,

who indeed at the proper time revealed his word

in the proclamation with which I was entrusted

by the command of God our savior,

to Titus, my true child in our common faith:

grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete

so that you might set right what remains to be done

and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.

Responsorial Psalm

96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R.        (3)  Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song;

            sing to the Lord, all you lands.

Sing to the Lord; bless his name.

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

            among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the Lord, you families of nations,

            give to the Lord glory and praise;

            give to the Lord the glory due his name!

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The Lord is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

            he governs the peoples with equity.

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;

all who come to him will live for ever.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.

A very large crowd gathered around him 

so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.

And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.

And he taught them at length in parables, 

and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 

“Hear this! A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, 

and the birds came and ate it up.

Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it 

and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.

It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, 

those present along with the Twelve 

questioned him about the parables.

He answered them, 

“The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.

But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that

            they may look and see but not perceive,

                        and hear and listen but not understand,

                        in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?

Then how will you understand any of the parables?

The sower sows the word.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.

As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once 

and takes away the word sown in them.

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, 

when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

But they have no roots; they last only for a time.

Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, 

they quickly fall away.

Those sown among thorns are another sort.

They are the people who hear the word, 

but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, 

and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, 

and it bears no fruit.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it

and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

I imagine my situation as the landscape about which Jesus speaks: where does it seem barren, what are the fertile places? I invite Jesus to broadcast his words of life where I am.

PRAYER:

The sower knows that not all seed will flourish. I pray for forgiveness and healing for the rocky, bare places I observe in my life. I pray that I may not neglect where there is growth but that I may grow in gratitude and in hope.

Proclaim The Gospel To All Creatures

JANUARY 25, 2022, TUESDAY
FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL, APOSTLE (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 519

Reading I

Acts 22:3-16

Paul addressed the people in these words:

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,

but brought up in this city.

At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law

and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.

I persecuted this Way to death,

binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.

Even the high priest and the whole council of elders

can testify on my behalf.

For from them I even received letters to the brothers

and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem

in chains for punishment those there as well.

“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,

about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.

I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,

‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’

And he said to me,

‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’

My companions saw the light

but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.

I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’

The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus,

and there you will be told about everything

appointed for you to do.’ 

Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light,

I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.

“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,

and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

came to me and stood there and said,

‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’

And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him.

Then he said,

‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,

to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice;

for you will be his witness before all

to what you have seen and heard.

Now, why delay?

Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,

calling upon his name.’”

OR:

Acts 9:1-22

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,

went to the high priest and asked him

for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,

if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,

he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.

On his  journey, as he was nearing Damascus,

a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

He said, “Who are you, sir?”

The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,

for they heard the voice but could see no one.

Saul got up from the ground,

but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;

so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.

For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,

and the Lord said to him in a vision, AAnanias.”

He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight

and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. 

He is there praying,

and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias

come in and lay his hands on him,

that he may regain his sight.”

But Ananias replied,

“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,

what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.

And here he has authority from the chief priests

to imprison all who call upon your name.”

But the Lord said to him,

“Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine

to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,

and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”

So Ananias went and entered the house;

laying his hands on him, he said,

“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,

Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,

that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes

and he regained his sight.

He got up and was baptized,

and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,

and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,

that he is the Son of God.

All who heard him were astounded and said, 

“Is not this the man who in Jerusalem

ravaged those who call upon this name,

and came here expressly to take them back in chains

to the chief priests?”

But Saul grew all the stronger

and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus,

proving that this is the Christ.

Responsorial Psalm

117:1bc, 2

R.        (Mark 16:15)  Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

or:

R.        Alleluia, alleluia.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

            glorify him, all you peoples!

R.        Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

or:

R.        Alleluia, alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,

            and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever.

R.        Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

or:

R.        Alleluia, alleluia.

Alleluia

See Jn 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I chose you from the world,

to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:

“Go into the whole world

and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;

whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe:

in my name they will drive out demons,

they will speak new languages.

They will pick up serpents with their hands,

and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.

They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Today we celebrate the conversion of Saint Paul. On the road to Damascus, Saul is encountered by the Lord and undergoes a radical conversion. Saul, the former instrument of fear, terror and persecution, becomes Paul, the chosen instrument of God. His life task now is to bring the good news of God’s reconciling love to those who know nothing about it.

PRAYER:

Lord, I too am chosen by you as your ambassador. This brings me closer to you. You trust me to be the Good News in the present tense. Let me spot the signs of your presence as I try to do this.