January 22
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
9:00 AM – Deliverance of the Suffering Souls in Purgatory / Joyce Kotch
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
David returned from his defeat of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage. David asked him, “Where do you come from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of the children of Israel.” “Tell me what happened,” David bade him. He answered that many of the soldiers had fled the battle and that many of them had fallen and were dead, among them Saul and his son Jonathan.
David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
“Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul, slain upon your heights; how can the warriors have fallen!
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, separated neither in life nor in death, swifter than eagles, stronger than lions! Women of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and in finery, who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.
“How can the warriors have fallen– in the thick of the battle, slain upon your heights!
“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother! most dear have you been to me; more precious have I held love for you than love for women.
“How can the warriors have fallen, the weapons of war have perished!”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 80:2-3, 5-7
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
O guide of the flock of Joseph!
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O LORD of hosts, how long will you burn with anger
while your people pray?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in ample measure.
You have left us to be fought over by our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Gospel Acclamation
See Acts 16:14b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 3:20-21
Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
“Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.”
Reflection
Today, the reading from the Gospel of Mark consists of two sentences. We see Jesus with his disciples and a large crowd, so large that the group is not able to eat because there are so many people gathered in the house. The group is so interested because Jesus has driven out demons. The crowd feels that Beelzebul, a demon, has possessed Jesus. After all, ‘he must be possessed by a demon if he is driving out demons.’ Because of this, even his family states, “He is out of his mind.”
The gospel message is not that Jesus is out of his mind, but rather, that a believer must do what God calls them to do, even if it does not make sense to one’s own family. Jesus believes and follows what the Father tells him. How difficult a message that is to accept. We typically want to please our families, and not cause them worry or pain, yet God is the one to whom we must answer.
Our family and friends may whisper behind our backs that they think we are out of our mind for believing what we believe, yet we know it is true! We must always pray that we remain true to the call of God, and answer that call with our entire mind, soul, and heart, no matter what others may say or think.
May God bless you,
Fr. John
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