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.




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