Trinity Sunday

trinity symbol

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Mass Readings

Reading 1: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-6, 9, 18-20, 22
Reading 2: Romans 8:14-17
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/053021.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

What exactly is the Trinity and what does it have to do with me?

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!

The Trinity is the whole of Christian doctrine. In the creed we recite during the Mass, we say everything in terms of the Trinity. “In fact, the whole creed is a statement of belief in the Trinity.” <1> We say, “We believe in one God, the Father who…” and then follows the doctrines of creation and providence; and “in the Son who…” then comes the doctrines of the incarnation, redemption and resurrection; and “in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who…” and finally come the doctrines of Scripture, tradition, the church and the end times. <2>

The Trinity is the ultimate example of agape love. That means total self-gift, total, unselfish reception, and a reciprocating total, self-gift. That’s why we often hold up the Trinity as an image for married couples. There’s so much we could unpack as we try to understand the Trinity. But holy Mother Church gave us the closing lines of the Matthew’s Gospel account to consider. So, let’s discuss Trinity through that lens.

In our Gospel this weekend from Matthew, Jesus affirms our belief in the Trinity. In the Great Commission, Jesus tells them to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This is the very heart of evangelization. Evangelization is sharing the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ. Evangelization is rooted in our belief in Trinity. The willingness to share the Good News – to evangelize – is an expression of our love as we try to imitate the selfless love of the Trinity.

That’s partly why we have the first two readings this weekend. The first reading from Deuteronomy refers to the Exodus. In our second reading from Romans, Paul sees salvation in Jesus Christ as the new Exodus. So, Jesus calls on the church to preach this new Exodus – the Good News.

Jesus gave this message to the eleven (Matthew 28:16). Now, “the eleven” of course refers to the apostles. We are an apostolic church which means that we believe our bishops today are the living apostles – that leadership has been handed down through a succession process from the first apostles to the present day. But can the apostles evangelize the world all by themselves?

Of course not! As the early church developed, we see the rise of priests and deacons. We see the formation of consecrated religious communities of men and women. And throughout history, we also see examples lay faithful evangelists.

Our church teaches us that by virtue of our baptism we all are obligated to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter, beginning with those closest to us. In my personal experience, this is easier said than done.

For example, growing up, I wasn’t taught how to share my faith – what words to use to share my faith or how to defend the faith. I was raised in a time when we delegated the role of evangelist to the clergy and the consecrated religious. The rest of us were expected to absorb what we needed from the Mass perhaps through some holy osmosis because rarely in the Mass was my role as a disciple addressed.

This passive approach to evangelization is not what Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel. Jesus didn’t say, “if you’d like, you could go and baptize…” or “if it’s not too much trouble, would you go and baptize…” or “I hate to ask, but could you go and baptize.” No! Jesus said “Go” (Matthew 28:19).

How do we correct this problem today?

Our Protestant brothers and sisters spend a lot of time, especially during their youth, learning how to share their faith. Through various activities, they learn the words to use and how to use them. Now, we can’t take a trip on the way back machine and correct the past. But we can learn from the experiences of our Protestant brothers and sisters – from their successes and their setbacks.

We can and should help our clergy and our parishes explore new and innovative programs and strategies designed to help Catholic communities share their faith. It doesn’t matter whether you are eight or eighty. At every stage in life, we can share our faith. How we do that will change of course based on the stage of life we’re in and our experiences.

The Good News of Jesus is liberating and life-giving. This world which seems increasingly focused on the self above all else needs to hear the liberating message of the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Homework! Nourished by the Trinity through Word and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions.
First, how can I support my clergy and my parish to learn more about evangelization training programs?
Second, how do I share the Good News with my family and friends?

I think doing our homework will help us as disciples honor Jesus’s instruction to go out into world! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image: Trinity symbol. Artist unknown. JPG.

Notes:
<1> Michael Himes, Chapter One Trinity. Kindle.
<2> Ibid.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Himes, Michael. The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004. Kindle.
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. The mystery of the Trinity: 202, 232-60, 684, 732
2. The Trinity in the Church and her liturgy: 249, 813, 950, 1077-1109, 2845
3. Grace of divine sonship: 257, 1996-97
4. Divine sonship in the Old Testament: 441
5. The Church as missionary: 767-68, 849-56
6. Gifts and fruits of the Spirit: 1830-32
7. The family as an image of the Trinity: 2205
8. The Trinity and prayer: 2655, 2664
9. Prayer to God as Father: 2777-82

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/053021.cfm
Lectionary: 165

Reading 1
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Moses said to the people: “Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”

Responsorial
Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. For he spoke, and it was made; he commanded, and it stood forth.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Reading 2
Romans 8:14-17
Brothers and sisters: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Alleluia
Revelation 1:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Second Sunday of Easter

picture of statue of Jesus with arms out on top of mountain surrounded by clouds

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
Responsorial: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6
Gospel: John 20:19-31

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041121.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Happy Easter! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal and I’m so glad you’re here to share this second Sunday of Easter with me as we break open the Word!

Whoa! As usual, Holy Mother Church gave us so much in these three readings today. We’re going to focus on the Gospel, but even that is packed with so much Good News there’s no way we could possibly do it justice. But let’s start with the idea of church.

There are many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who, for whatever reason, choose not to affiliate with or go to church – any church. People may have all sorts of reasons for not wanting to affiliate or go to church. But there are many reasons why it’s important for us to come together as a community. We’ve discussed the idea about the sacramental principle before.

The Church teaches us that if God is everywhere, then all time and all space is holy. But we can take this for granted. So, based on Scripture, the Church teaches us that we need to set time aside and come together as a community to praise and worship God. <1> So, the sacramental principle is one reason why we come together as church.

But there is another reason why we need to come together as church. Actually, it’s probably one of the first reasons we come to church.

At it’s core, what is Christianity? Christianity is a report – a Gospel – Good News. News requires that someone brings us the news. <2> St. Paul didn’t go up to each person individually and say, “Hey, have you heard the Good News?” No, St. Paul brought the Good News to a community and the letters he wrote were intended for the benefit of the community. And each of those communities, like all disciples, are charged with passing on the Good News – sharing it with others.

The spiritual life is not a solitary journey. We are on a pilgrimage – a trip we share in common with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s why when Mass begins, the celebrant, praying the words of Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:13). The word “communion” is a translation of the Greek word koinonia. The basic meaning of koinonia means “sharing in things.” That really points to our first reading from Acts. We could spend the better part of an hour (or a semester) digging into the mutual sharing described in Acts, Christian ethics, and the world of business.

But let’s get back to the Gospel. We exist today as a Christian people – as a community – because someone somewhere at some time brought us the Good News. I suggest to you that people who entered the church through RCIA can identify with that idea perhaps more easily than those of us born into the community. The message of Jesus Christ can never die as long as there are people who, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, pass on the Good News to others.

Today’s Gospel account from John tells us about two miraculous appearances of Jesus to the disciples in, both instances, while in locked rooms. Jesus says to the disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 19:21). That message is not reserved to the twelve. Our bishops who are the apostles today, can’t do it alone. The church teaches us that Jesus sends all disciples – all of us – out to share the Good News!

The beatitude we hear in today’s Gospel, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” is what faith is all about (John 19:29). Indeed, John tells us that “these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name” (John 19:31).

Now, there are all sorts of “marks of discipleship” that we could get into, but let’s keep it simple. A disciple is someone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A disciple seeks to grow their personal relationship with Jesus by learning more about Him. And a disciple is someone who, rooted in the community, shares the Good News with other people.

Today’s Gospel message is a reminder to all of us about our core responsibilities as disciples. We gather as a community and our koinonia or our communion “comes when Jesus Christ takes each one of us and all of us into himself in the Eucharist.” <3> Nourished by the Eucharist, we are then sent out to share the Good News. That’s why the Mass ends with the deacon, or the celebrant if there isn’t a deacon, proclaiming, “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.”

Homework! As we continue to celebrate our Easter feast nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following questions. First, am I carrying my weight in my parish community? What can I do to support my parish mission? Second, if I were asked by a colleague or a family member to explain the Good News of Jesus Christ, what would I say?

I think doing our homework can help us be engaged disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May we all come to know the joy of Easter and may God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Second Sunday of Easter. Artist Unknown. JPG.

Notes:
<1> Michael Himes, Chapter Two Grace.
<2> Himes, Chapter Five Church.
<3> Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ and Carol Atwell Ackels, 186.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly, and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Himes, Michael. The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004. Kindle.
3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.
4. Schneiders, Sandra M. Jesus Risen in Our Midst: Essays on the Resurrection of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2013. Kindle.
5. Tetlow, Joseph A., SJ and Carol Atwell Ackels. Finding Christ in the World: A Twelve Week Ignatian Retreat in Everyday Life. Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 2017.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Faith: 153-62
2. Jesus as the Christ: 436
3. The appearances of the risen Christ: 448, 641-46
4. Christ’s risen humanity: 645-46
5. Saving significance of the resurrection: 651-55
6. Our new birth in the resurrection of Christ: 654-55, 1988
7. Water as type of the gift of the Spirit: 694
8. The Holy Spirit and the Church: 737-41
9. “I believe in the forgiveness of sins”: 926-84, 1441-42
10. Communion in spiritual goods: 949-53, 1329, 1342, 2624, 2790
11. Sanctifying presence of the risen Christ in the liturgy: 1084-89
12. Blood and water as types of baptism and Eucharist: 1225
13. The sacrament of Reconciliation: 1461-67
14. The Sunday Eucharist: 2177-78, 1342

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041121.cfm
Lectionary: 44

Reading 1
Acts 4:32-35
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Responsorial
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
R. (1) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Or R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Or R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Or R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 Johnn 5:1-6
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.

Alleluia
John 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
Blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his na

Praying in the Storm

picture of a man praying with dramatic storm cloud overhead.

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Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Responsorial: Psalm 147:1-6
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020721.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Hello, and thank you for joining me today for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes, where every weekend we break open the Word. Today’s readings help to prepare us for beginning Lent in a few weeks. Specifically, these readings help us think about prayer.

In today’s first reading, we hear an excerpt from Job. Now, recalling Job’s story, we know that he was successful in just about every way we can describe success: family, friends, wealth, and a strong relationship with God. But, he loses everything because God allows Satan to test Job.

Three of his friends have come to comfort him. Part of their idea is that Job must have done something to deserve bad things in his life. But Job doesn’t accept that. Now, in today’s first reading, we hear a piece of Job’s reply to one of his friends. And he describes the bleakness of his situation. Just a few verses later, beyond our reading, Job’s attention turns to God, and he has no problem complaining to God. But, he never speaks falsely against God.

In our world today, there are so many difficult situations. Some people haven’t done well at all during the pandemic. And if we were suffering from a chronic illness before the pandemic, well, the pandemic probably made life even more difficult! Add to that the number of people who’ve had to die alone – it’s tragic!

In Job’s case, he never gave in to self-pity. Job did not believe that God sent him a punishment. Job was not afraid to take his complaints directly to God. Job says, “I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.” (Job 7:4) Do you feel restless? How many people choose to escape restlessness with something outside themselves, like friends, sports, binge-watching streaming entertainment? Or worse, losing themselves through destructive behaviors like alcohol and drugs? Job teaches us to turn to the Lord in prayer!

In the end, God rewards Job for never losing hope or faith. It’s like we hear in Psalm 147, the “Lord rebuilds” and “he gathers.” “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” and “The LORD sustains the lowly.” One of the lessons then that Job teaches us is that we need to keep the lines of communication with God open even during pain and suffering.

We also see that idea in today’s Gospel. After synagogue, the disciples Simon and Andrew invite Jesus over. But Simon’s mother-in-law is in bed, suffering from fever. What do the disciples do? Well, they don’t know what Jesus will do, but they tell Jesus all about the situation.

Isn’t that true for us too? We don’t know how and if God will help us with a particular situation, nor should we expect a direct and clear answer, but like Simon and Andrew, we need to bring our petitions to Jesus. We need to remember that we are not alone. So, we can bring Jesus our pain and suffering and our problems to Jesus. We never know what form God’s response will take.

Later in the Gospel, what does Jesus do? Jesus, who is God incarnate, goes off by himself to pray to God. Jesus, who is our example of what it means to be fully human, goes to God in prayer for guidance. So, Jesus models prayer to all of us. We shouldn’t make assumptions about our status as disciples and say something like, “I’m not worthy.” Or, “God has more important things to do than worry about this.”

What does Jesus do next in our reading today? He and the disciples continue their journey and go to synagogues to preach and drive out demons. In other words, Jesus went – Jesus goes to the places where we gather to pray to bring us healing and consolation. Whether you can go to church right now or not, or watch mass online, or gather online with friends to pray or pray alone or sit quietly alone with Jesus either before the Blessed Sacrament or in your home, Jesus comes to you and me.

If you’re feeling anxious or alone right now, you need to remind yourself that you are not alone. Jesus comes to us in our prayer, and the church prays for every soul throughout every day. We need to remind ourselves that we are not alone and that people are praying for us right now. I think that’s a very comforting thought. And it’s a great reminder as we approach Lent to pray. We are called to pray for our friends and our families, of course. We are called to pray for the church and for the whole world. We are called to pray for our friends and families who’ve passed away, especially all the souls in purgatory. And we are called to pray for the conversion of all souls.

Homework! Strengthened by prayer and nourished by the Word and the Sacrament, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions.
First, Jesus rose early and prayed before dawn. Where is a good place to pray in my home, and what time of day is best for my situation?
Second, what are some ways I can share my prayer life with others?

I think our homework will help us maintain focus on Jesus and share the Good News with others. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. Praying in the storm. JPG.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
2. Montague, George T SM. First Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Jesus as the model of prayer: 520, 2599-606
2. Inculturation: 854, 1204
3. Christ the physician: 1503-5
4. Support of church, clergy: 2043

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020721.cfm
Lectionary: 74

Reading 1
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Job spoke, saying:
Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?
Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade,
a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery,
and troubled nights have been allotted to me.
If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?”
then the night drags on;
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind;
I shall not see happiness again.

Responsorial
Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or: R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or: R. Alleluia.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or: R. Alleluia.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.

Alleluia
Matthew 8:17
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.