Reflections on Daily Readings 2025
December 29th - January 25th, 2025
December 29, 2004 – January 4, 2025
Christmas Season | Readings: Sunday Cycle C; Weekday Cycle 1.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
1Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Psalm 83; 1John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52
In our reading from the first book of Samuel we read of the birth of Samuel. Hannah had prayed to the Lord for a child and promised that the child would be dedicated to God forever. The child is born and Hannah gives praise and thanks to God for the gift of new life and, when the child is a year old, she brings him to the Temple to dedicate him to God as she had promised. The child grew and became one of the greatest judges in the history of Israel. In the second reading St John asks us to think about the love which God has lavished upon us, in particular by letting us be known as his sons and daughters. All we have to do in return is to live by the Gospel precepts. In our gospel passage from St Luke we have the story of the finding of the child Jesus in the Temple by his very worried parents. When questioned he tells them that he was carrying out his Father’s will. Though his true Father was in heaven he still lived under the authority of both Mary and Joseph and grew strong in the sight of his peers. This is the ideal to which all families are called – an ideal based on love and respect.
Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
1John 2:12-17; Psalm 95; Luke 2:36-40
In our first reading from St John we are again reminded to keep faithful to God and to live according to his will by avoiding the obstacles which the world places before us. The spirit of goodwill which marks this joyful season must permeate our lives not just for these few weeks each year but every day of our lives. It is a challenge to live this way but a challenge which we can live up to because we have the love of God to support us. Our gospel is the end section of the Presentation text and today we see Anna greeting the Child and telling all present that he is the Saviour of Jerusalem. Having fulfilled the Law, the Holy Family then return to Nazareth.
Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
1John 2:18-21; Psalm 95; John 1:1-18
In the reading from the first letter of St John we are again reminded that we are all children of God and that we have already received the truth and the knowledge of God. John was writing to those who live in modern day Turkey and rebuking them for having abandoned the Christian way which he sees as a sign of the coming of the antichrist. For John, those who are true believers would never abandon the faith and the Christian calling so easily. Our gospel text today is the prologue to St John’s gospel in which the evangelist tells us that Christ is the Word of God and that he has existed since the beginning. He also tells us that those who accept Christ as their Saviour and Lord will become children of God. As believers and children of God we have a duty and responsibility to live Christian lives and to proclaim Christ as our Saviour and Lord and especially having just celebrated his birth.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 66; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
Throughout the Church’s liturgical calendar there are several solemnities, feast days and memorials of Our Lady. Today we celebrate Our Blessed Lady as the Mother of God which is not accepted by all Christians. For us, Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity. Therefore, as his mother, Mary is the Mother of God. However, this does not place Mary in a position superior to God or to her Divine Son but simply acknowledges her special connection with Jesus Christ. The Vatican II document, Lumen gentium, says: “At the message of the angel, the Virgin Mary received the Word of God in her heart and in her body, and gave Life to the World. Hence she is acknowledged and honoured as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer” (Lumen gentium 52).
In our first reading today from the Book of Numbers we see God telling Moses how to bless the people in his name – “May the Lord bless you and keep you…” In our reading from Galatians we are reminded that Christ was born of a woman and therefore he was as human as we are. However, in so doing he has enabled each of us to become children of God just as he is the Son of God. In the gospel passage we see the Holy Family still in the stable or cave when the shepherds come having been sent by the angels. The second part of the text recalls how the Child was named Jesus in accordance with the instruction of Gabriel at the annunciation.
1John 2:22-28; Psalm 97; John 1:19-28
St John exhorts us to remain faithful to God in our first reading and to be faithful to the teaching which we have received from Christ and to be wary of those false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Messiah. If we remain steadfast then we will receive the promise which God made to us – that is eternal life. We can be steadfast because we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit who will protect us whenever we ask for that strength and protection. In our gospel we read about John the Baptist who was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. We are called on to be modern day successors of John and to proclaim the kingdom by what we do and say and think. John told his questioners that the Messiah stood among them though they did not know it – and that is still true today – Jesus walks among us though we, sadly, do not always recognise him.
Memorial of Sts Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church
Basil was born in 329 in Cappadocia to a family which produced nine saints. During the course of his studies he met Gregory of Nazianzen and they became life-long friends. For a time after studies Basil was a teacher before becoming a monk and is regarded as the spiritual head of monks of the Eastern Church (as St Benedict is spiritual head of monks in the Western Church). In 370 he was made bishop of Caesarea and acquitted himself very well in his role as bishop. The Arian heresy (that Jesus is not co-equal with the Father but created by him) was strong at this time and Basil fought against this even to the point of taking on the Arianist emperor, Valens. His friend, Gregory, was born about the year 329 and likewise to a family of saints. After studies in law he followed Basil in the solitary life and was very shy compared to his friend. He was appointed bishop by Basil but never took up the office, instead acting as assistant-bishop to his father before being appointed to Constantinople in 380, though he resigned soon after. Basil died in January 379 and Gregory ten years later. Both are counted in the Western Church as being among the Four Greek Doctors of the Church while in the East they are two of the Three Holy Hierarchs – John Chrysostom being the third.
1John 2:29-3:6; Psalm 97; John 1:29-34
In our first reading today we are reminded that those who truly know God do not sin because they live according to his will and are his children. The title ‘Son of God’ was reserved for those in Old Testament times who lived uprightly in the sight of God. St John is challenging us to live up to the fact that we are the Sons and Daughters of God. In our gospel text we see John the Baptist witnessing to Jesus and telling his listeners that Jesus is truly the Son of God who is filled with the Spirit of God. The two readings call on us to reaffirm our allegiance to God and to witness to him at all times.
1John 3:7-10; Psalm 97; John 1:35-42
In our first reading today, St John tells us that a sinful way of life is not in keeping with God’s love for us. We are the children of God and so cannot sin if the seed of truth and the Spirit of God are within us. In today’s gospel we read of the calling of the first apostle – St Andrew – who went and called his brother, St Peter, proclaiming that he had found the Messiah. We have heard about Jesus all our lives but how long is it since we proclaimed him as the Messiah?
January 5 – January 11, 2025
Christmas Season | Readings: Sunday Cycle C; Weekday Cycle 1.
The Second Sunday of Christmas
Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12; Psalm 147; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18; John 1:1-18
The first reading and the gospel today are linked together because they both speak about the Wisdom of God coming to dwell among his chosen people. Jesus is that Wisdom and he lived on this earth as a human being, as one of his own creation and one of his own people. St Paul tells us in the second reading that in this way we are all sons of God because, through the incarnation, Christ restored us to glory and we are all saved through him if we earnestly seek that salvation and the inheritance he promised us. Paul is asking us to think about this great mystery and to realise the hope which is now before each one of us.
The Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 71; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
The feast of the Epiphany celebrates the first formal presentation of the Christ-child to the world represented by the three Wise Men from the east, traditionally named Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior.
The feast of the Epiphany celebrates the first formal presentation of the Christ-child to the world represented by the three wise men from the east. The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah speaks of the glory of the Lord now becoming visible and of the great joy that this brings to the earth. The Psalm continues this theme and tells of how all the people shall worship and give glory and praise to God. In the second reading from his letter to the Ephesians, St Paul tells his readers that the message of God through Christ is meant for all people – not just the Jewish people but all peoples. The gospel text from St Matthew recalls how the three wise men came to find the Child and the homage they pay to him. The three wise men in particular represent all peoples – Jew and Gentile alike – and on our behalf they pay homage to our infant king while also giving him gifts from us. We cannot give him presents as the wise men did for he is no longer physically present but we can give him the gift of believing in him and of proclaiming the Gospel. As the Christmas carol says – “what I have I give him, give my all.”
1John 3:22-4:6; Psalm 2; Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
St John reminds us in the first reading that those who keep the Commandments, believe in Christ and love one another will have God in them. He also warns the people of Asia Minor about false prophets who were about at the time diluting the message given by Christ. One of the marks of a true prophet or believer in Christ was that the preacher fully accepted the Incarnation. We are reminded that the language of belief is often alien in our world today and so we must persevere all the more and not believe the false prophets who come speaking the language that people want to hear. In the gospel from St Matthew we read of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry or his first appearance in public following the arrest of John the Baptist. Jesus’ fame and reputation quickly spread as he goes about preaching and curing.
Readings:
Ezekiel 34:11-16 or Ephesians 2:13-22; Psalm 121; John 10:11-16
The first reading for today’s feast from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel comes from a passage in which the image of the shepherd is used. In another passage the author speaks of bad shepherds who do not look after their sheep and who are human shepherds. Our text comes from the passage which sees God as the Good Shepherd, the one who has true concern for his sheep and who leads them to good pastures.
In the alternative reading from the letter to the Ephesians, the author says that the differences between Jew and Gentile have been removed through Jesus Christ so that they are now one people in the sight of God. This is seen visibly in the Christian Community and in the Church, which is built upon the foundations of the Apostles with Jesus Christ as the main cornerstone, just as he should be the cornerstone of the life of every Christian.
In the gospel text from St John, we see Jesus take up the Good Shepherd image from Ezekiel and say that he is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the one who has true care for each one of us and this was shown when he laid down his life that we might be reconciled to God and have life eternal. The bad or false shepherd doesn’t care about the sheep in his care because they are not his, and so he runs away and leaves the sheep to their own devices and to be taken by the evil one, whereas the Lord looks after those who are faithful to him to see that they reach heaven.
Feast of St Peter Thomas, Carmelite and Bishop
Peter Thomas was born about the year 1305 in southern Périgord, France, and became a Carmelite at the age of twenty-one. In 1345 he was chosen by the Order as its Procurator General to the papal court, which was then at Avignon in France. He was made Bishop of Patti and Lipari in 1354, Bishop of Corone (Koroni) in the Peloponnesus region of southern Greece in 1359, Papal Legate for the East, Archbishop of Crete in 1363, and Latin Patriarch of Constantinople in 1364. Throughout all of this he worked tirelessly for Church unity and was a special envoy on behalf of Pope Urban V on several occasions. In 1365 he was in charge of the military expedition against Alexandria during which he was injured, resulting in his death three months later at Famagosta, Cyprus, in 1366.
Feast of St Andrew Corsini, Carmelite and Bishop
Andrew was born in 1302 to the well-known and noble Corsini family in Florence, Italy. His early years were far from exemplary but, after intervention by his mother, he changed his ways and became a Carmelite friar, studying in both Paris and Avignon. In 1348 he was elected Provincial of Tuscany and, a year later, was appointed Bishop of Fiesole, which he initially tried to refuse. He was particularly given to the causes of the poor and became known as ‘The Apostle of Florence’, and to finding peace among the divided Italian states. He died on January 6, 1374.
Readings:
Isaiah 61:1-3a or Malachi 2:5-7a; Psalm 88; Matthew 23:8-12 or Matthew 28:16-20
The first reading from the third section of the Prophet Isaiah (Trito-Isaiah) is one which Jesus used to announce the arrival of the Messiah among the people. The text speaks of being anointed by the Spirit to carry out God’s work of liberating his people from the darkness of evil and leading them into the light. It speaks of comforting those for whom life is difficult, and those who mourn. This is quite appropriate for Andrew Corsini who devoted much of his time to the plight of the poor.
The alternative reading from the Prophet Malachi speaks of the ideal priest who would bring God’s message to his people and who would guide them along the right path. His words will turn the people from sinful ways to the true path to eternal life, and his life will be marked by integrity and virtue.
In the gospel passage from St Matthew, the Lord is warning the disciples about their role as leaders of the people and how that role is to be carried out in humility. If they become arrogant, as some of the Jewish leaders of time had become, if they lord it over the people, then they will do enormous harm to the faith and to the faithful and will ultimately lead them away from God and the Kingdom.
In the alternative gospel passage, again from St Matthew, we have a post-resurrection encounter between Jesus and the Eleven in which Jesus gives them the great mandate to continue his work. They are to preach to all the nations – showing that the message is not confined to the Jews – and they are to baptise the people in the name of the Trinity. In all that they do, the Risen Lord will always be with them.
1John 4:19-5:4; Psalm 71; Luke 4:14-22
We continue reading today from St John’s passage on love. He again tells us to love much and he reminds us that if we do not love the one we see then we cannot love the One who is always present though unseen. He tells us that we must love our brother but in this John is not simply referring to our blood relations but to all peoples because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a strong reminder of the connection between love and faith. In today’s gospel text from St Luke we see Jesus reading in the synagogue. He reads from the Prophet Isaiah and tells the people that he is the fulfilment of the passage. We too are called on to “bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives…” It is a further manifestation that the One whose birthday we celebrated at Christmas is truly the Son of God and the promised Messiah.
1John 5:5-13; Psalm 147; Luke 5:12-16
St John tells us in the first reading that only the one who believes in Christ can overcome the world and have eternal life. God himself has said this and there is no greater witness than this. John also talks of Jesus’ baptism by water and the shedding of his blood for us. In the gospel reading from St Luke we again read of the great power which Jesus had. In the text we see him cure a man of his leprosy and what is significant is that he tells the man that he wants to cure him. Jesus wants to save each one of us but we too must want that just as the leper wanted to be cured. While Jesus wants to save he will not force his ways on anyone and so we must show our desire to be saved by living out his commandments and loving one another.
January 12 – January 18, 2025
1st week of Ordinary Time | Readings: Sunday Cycle C; Weekday Cycle 1.
The Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 103; Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
Our first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah is a call to the people to rise up and be consoled for their liberation is now at hand. The Lord has now come to them and he will gather them together as a shepherd gathers his sheep. It is an appropriate text for the celebration of the Lord’s baptism because with his baptism Jesus began his public ministry – at his baptism he was revealed to the people and God signalled his approval of him. At the Epiphany we celebrated the revelation of our salvation to the Magi but now we celebrate his revelation to all the people and the preaching of the Good News. Our gospel passage recounts Christ’s baptism by John in the Jordan as told by Luke. In it, the Father witnesses to his own Son and says that he is the Chosen One in fulfilment of the text from Isaiah. In the second reading, St Paul tells us that Christ became a sacrifice for us simply because he had compassion for us – we had done nothing to merit it. Now however, we must live good and religious lives in this present world while we wait for the blessings of the world to come. At our own baptism we became God’s chosen ones in a special way and by living out Paul’s instructions in the second reading we will help to bring Christ’s glory to the whole world.
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 1:1-6; Psalm 96; Mark 1:14-20
Our first reading comes from the letter to the Hebrews which is attributed to St Paul though not written by him. The letter is also written for an unidentified group. Nevertheless, the message of the letter is not to be ignored because of its authorship. In today’s text, the Hebrews are told how God spoke to the people in former times by means of the prophets who delivered his message for him. Now, however, he has spoken to the people through his own Son. The author emphasises the fact that Christ is the Son of God and is God and this highlights the importance of the message we have received. The beginning of Ordinary Time begins with Jesus starting out on his public ministry and calling the people to repentance. In today’s Gospel passage we also see him calling four fishermen (Simon, Andrew, James and John) to follow him and they do so without hesitation. Our readings today call us to repentance and to follow Christ with our whole heart acknowledging the importance of the message and the true identity of Christ.
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 2:5-12; Psalm 8; Mark 1:21-28
Again the author of the letter to the Hebrews speaks at length about the true identity of Jesus. He is at pains to make sure that we do not see Jesus as just another prophet or holy man but the Son of God who was perfect in everything. In the closing lines he also tells us that the one who sanctified us – Christ – and we who are sanctified are of the same stock, that is to say we are all sons and daughters of God and heaven is our true home. In our Gospel text we see Jesus casting out an unclean spirit. The spirit recognised Jesus as the Son of God and acknowledges this. The people are amazed by how he speaks and they too recognise the authority with which he acts. The readings call on us today to recognise the authority of Christ and of his Gospel and to conform our lives to it, for only then can we receive eternal life.
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 2:14-18; Psalm 104; Mark 1:29-39
Having told us that Christ is the true Son of God and is God himself, the author of the first reading now tells us that Christ is also human. It was not the angels who needed to be redeemed but men and women and so Christ was born of human flesh and became one like us. Only by being one of us could he plead on our behalf and understand our struggles. There are a number of important points in today’s Gospel. The first is that Jesus cured people of their illnesses no matter what their complaint was. This shows how tremendous his power was. Secondly, he went away from the crowd so that he himself could pray. Even though he too was God he still prayed to the Father, he still spoke to the Father whenever he could and in private. Thirdly, he did not keep the message and his healing powers for those who were his friends but wanted to travel as far as possible to spread the Good News as far as possible. The challenge for us today is to realise that Jesus was human like one of us and being human he knows our weaknesses. When we acknowledge this then we can pray to him knowing that he will listen to us and answer us. We must also realise that we too have a duty to spread the Good News wherever we may go.
Memorial of St Ita, Virgin
Ita (whose name means ‘thirst for holiness’) was born in the sixth century in the Deise near Drum, Co Waterford. She left home and went to Limerick in order to devote her life to God. She gathered a community of maidens around her and also ran a school for boys. Many miracles were said to have been worked by her. She died in 570.
Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 3:7-14; Psalm 94; Mark 1:40-45
We are reminded today of how the people in the wilderness rebelled against Moses and against God and turned their backs on God. We are also reminded of how he made a new covenant with his people despite all they had done. The writer does not want us to turn from God but to make sure that we help each other to remain faithful and on the path to eternal life as co-heirs with Christ. Jesus cures a leper in today’s Gospel passage, not because he had to but because he wanted to. Despite Jesus’ warning the leper goes and tells others about the cure and the people begin to flock to Jesus. The readings remind us today that God wants us to be with him and will help us when we call to him and are faithful to him. God is not going to force salvation on us but will only grant us the salvation promised to us if we want it and to show that we want it we must be faithful to his Word and to him.
Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 4:1-5, 11; Psalm 77; Mark 2:1-12
The author of the letter to the Hebrews reminds his readers that the promise made by God is still good and there is no time limit on it. But the promise can only be attained by being faithful. The Israelites who rejected Christ were not faithful and therefore have rejected their own salvation. Jesus has his first confrontation with the authorities in today’s Gospel text. A paralytic is brought to him and when Jesus tells him his sins are forgiven the scribes begin to question this. They believed that only God could forgive sins and to prove to them that he was from God and had the authority to forgive, Jesus cures the paralytic who then gets up and walks out in front of them. We are called to believe in Christ and to be faithful to God and to the Gospel. We are also reminded that if we do sin that Christ will forgive us if we ask for forgiveness.
Memorial of St Antony, Abbot
Antony was born to a wealthy family in Upper Egypt in 251 but lived a life of solitude and prayer in the desert. He is regarded as the Father of Christian Monasticism because he was the first hermit to form communities of hermits. He was much sought after by kings, bishops and crowds of people seeking advice. He died in his hermitage on Mount Kolzim near the Red Sea at the age of 105.
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 4:12-16; Psalm 18; Mark 2:13-1
The word of God is something powerful and something from which we cannot hide. No matter what we do or say – in public or in the privacy of our hearts – all is known to God. Therefore we must always be on our guard and remain faithful. If however we do fall, the author of the first reading reminds us that Christ will be there to help us because he knows our weaknesses having been human like us. He will always be there to help and to pick us up when we fall. We see Jesus calling the tax collector, Matthew, in our text today. We also see him admonished by the Pharisees for eating with those they considered sinners. It is worth noting that those who considered themselves virtuous were the very ones who rejected Christ, while those who acknowledged their sinfulness were the ones who embraced him. We are called to follow Christ as readily as St Matthew did and to remain faithful to him always. We are also told not to be like the Pharisees who coldly judged people without mercy, but to live a life of mercy and love.
January 19 – January 25, 2025
2nd week of Ordinary Time | Readings: Sunday Cycle C; Weekday Cycle 1.
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 95; 1Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11
A common theme in our readings today is that of marriage. In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah we see that the Lord will marry his people. As a result they will never be abandoned by him but he will always delight in them. In the gospel text from St John we have the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana. It was Our Lady who noticed the potential embarrassment which the family were about to suffer and she asked her Son to intervene – one of only two occasions that are recorded when she interceded with her Son for anything. Despite the fact that Christ’s hour had not yet come he answered his mother’s request and, as a result, we are told that the apostles believed in him – they finally had proof that he was somebody great.
In the second reading from the first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul tells us that we each have gifts and that these gifts have been given to us by the Holy Spirit. No matter what the gift is or who has been given it, the gift is always given “for a good purpose.” We come before the Lord today knowing that he is always with us and that he will answer our prayers and particularly the intercession which his Mother makes on our behalf.
Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 5:1-10; Psalm 110; Mark 2:18-22
In our first reading today, the author of the letter to the Hebrews continues to explain about the person of Christ. Today they are told that Christ is a priest like all other priests, except that he is perfect. As those who become priests are called by God so too Christ was called by God rather than opting for it himself. In this way he was like all other priests who are human and so knew our weaknesses. He also prayed to God for strength and support especially as he approached his own death. Again today we see the Pharisees objecting to the practises of Christ. While the Pharisees fasted publicly Jesus’ disciples did not fast at all. Christ tells them that this is because he is with them. When he is gone from them then they will fast. Christ, who was with us as one of us, knows our faults and our failings and is always ready to help us when we call to him. As he himself regularly prayed to the Father we too must follow that example and pray to the Father in good times as well as in times of need.
Hebrews 6:10-20; Psalm 111; Mark 2:23-28
All that we do is remembered by God and never forgotten. The letter to the Hebrews uses the example of Abraham to show us that all that God promises will be fulfilled. God has promised us everlasting life and that promise will be fulfilled in the same way that Abraham became the father of a great nation. The Pharisees are unhappy with Jesus and his followers in today’s Gospel text because, unlike the Pharisees, they do not keep the Sabbath in the same way as the Pharisees do. The Pharisees and many others had an extremely strict ban on doing any sort of work on the Sabbath and picking corn was against the Law. Jesus tells them that the Sabbath was made for man and not the other way around. In other words, the Sabbath is a day for remembering the goodness of God and giving thanks to him and while it does mean not working on the Sabbath day it does not mean that all physical exertion is banned.
Memorial of St Agnes, Virgin & Martyr
Agnes was a girl of about 14 or 15 years of age when she was martyred and buried beside the Via Nomentana in Rome during the final years of the persecutions by the Emperor Diocletian (early fourth century). Near her grave a basilica was erected and a series of large catacombs excavated and which can still be visited today. Nothing definite is known about her martyrdom other than the fact that she died for believing in Christ. On this day lambs are blessed, whose wool is used to make the palliums for new metropolitan archbishops.
Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17; Psalm 110; Mark 3:1-6
The King of Salem was also Melchizedek, the priest of God. We often hear the phrase – “You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.” The author of today’s first reading tells us that Christ is the high priest of this order and that, like Melchizedek, he is a priest for ever. But Christ’s priesthood is not because of any law regarding his lineage, but because of his power over death and his immortality. Today’s Gospel has the same theme as yesterday’s text – the Sabbath rest. Today we see Jesus in the synagogue where he cures a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees are not happy because, as far as they were concerned, nothing could be done on the Sabbath day. But Christ heals the man because it is a good thing to do and the right thing to do.
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Psalm 40; Mark 3:7-12
The theme of Christ’s priesthood continues in the reading from the Hebrews. The text lays down the ideal of what a high priest should be and then goes on to say that Christ does fulfil this ideal perfectly. Therefore we can be certain of Christ’s help when we call to him. In the Gospel Jesus is being pursued by the people because of the miracles and cures he has worked. The people are coming from near and far just to see and hear him. As he casts out unclean spirits, these spirits recognise him for who he really is – the Son of God – but he warns them to keep quiet so as not to aggravate the authorities further.
Hebrews 8:6-13; Psalm 85; Mark 3:13-19
God made many covenants with his people in Old Testament times but the people regularly broke them. He then made a promise that he would make a new covenant with the people which would be everlasting. Our text from the letter to the Hebrews today speaks of this to show us that Christ is the new and everlasting covenant. Today’s text from St Mark’s Gospel sees Jesus choosing his twelve closest companions. These twelve were to preach, to cure the sick and to cast out devils in his name. For us as baptised Christians, they are examples of the sort of way in which we too must live out our faith – bringing the healing presence of Christ wherever we go.
Memorial of St Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Francis was born in Savoy in 1567 to a noble family. Having studied law at Padua he gave up the legal profession and was ordained priest in 1593. He was made a bishop only six years later and was Archbishop of Geneva by 1602 – home of John Calvin (who broke from the Roman Catholic Church in 1530 and founded Calvinism). He founded the Visitation Nuns with St Jane Frances de Chantal and was noted for the great way he preached which brought many people back to the Catholic Church following the Reformation. He died at the age of 56 in 1622. He is the patron saint of journalists and other writers.
Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle
Paul (also known by his Jewish name Saul) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia in modern-day Turkey. He was educated and was a Pharisee which meant that he was well acquainted with both the Law and the Scriptures which is evident in his writings. As a faithful Jew he persecuted the early Christians until he was struck down on his way to Damascus to arrest some Christians. In this incident, the Risen Lord appeared to Paul and from then on Paul becomes the greatest champion of the faith and is known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. He met with St Peter and the other Apostles in Jerusalem on a number of occasions and undertook three great missionary journeys to spread the faith. These journeys took him through Palestine but also through Syria, Turkey, Crete, Greece and Malta. During some of these journeys he funded himself through his work as a tent maker. Eventually Paul ends up in Rome where, even under house arrest, he spreads the faith and writes some of the letters found in the New Testament to the churches he had founded on his travels and also to individuals to bolster their faith. These letters also contain Paul’s understanding of who Jesus Christ is and the importance of the death and resurrection of Christ. He was beheaded during the persecutions in the reign of Emperor Nero.
Readings
Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Psalm 116; Mark 16:15-18
St Paul had been the great persecutor of the early followers of Jesus and had put many of them to death. Today we celebrate his conversion and the readings show how he has changed and become one of the greatest preachers in the Church. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear Paul himself speak of his former life as a persecutor of Christianity and of his calling by Christ himself. The alternative reading from Acts gives a second telling of the event from a historical perspective. What is important in both accounts is that as Christ appeared to the Eleven in today’s gospel and sent them out to spread the news of the Kingdom, so too Paul has been commissioned by Christ for that same task. We are asked to convert daily to the Gospel and to take its message to others following the example of St Paul and in fulfilment of our own baptismal promises. Our gospel text is a post-resurrection encounter between Christ and the Eleven in which he commissions them to out to the “whole world; proclaim the Good News.”
