MASS READINGS & SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Saturday - January 14, 2023

 

Saturday - January 14, 2023

To fall in love with God

is the greatest of all romances;

to seek Him,

the greatest adventure;

to find him,

the greatest human achievement.

 

~~St. Augustine    

January 14, 2023

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 310

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    Heb 4:12-16

 

The word of God is living and effective,

sharper than any two-edged sword,

penetrating even between soul and spirit,

joints and marrow,

and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

No creature is concealed from him,

but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him

to whom we must render an account.

 

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,    

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who has similarly been tested in every way,

yet without sin.

So let us confidently approach the throne of grace

to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  19:8, 9, 10, 15

 

R.    (see John 6:63c)  Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

The law of the LORD is perfect,

    refreshing the soul;

The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

    giving wisdom to the simple.

R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

The precepts of the LORD are right,

    rejoicing the heart;

The command of the LORD is clear,

    enlightening the eye.

R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

The fear of the LORD is pure,

    enduring forever;

The ordinances of the LORD are true,

    all of them just.

R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart

    find favor before you,

    O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Alleluia         

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor

and to proclaim liberty to captives.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Mk 2:13-17

 

Jesus went out along the sea.

All the crowd came to him and he taught them.

As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,

sitting at the customs post.

Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

And he got up and followed Jesus.

While he was at table in his house,

many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;

for there were many who followed him.

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners

and tax collectors and said to his disciples,

“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus heard this and said to them,

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

**********************************

Jesus is Handing You a Mighty Sword

Jesus is handing you a mighty sword. It’s the Word of God, which is more effective than even the best of man-made swords. Effective in what? Cutting out Satan’s deceptions so we can grow in holiness and live with God forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.

This sword cuts right into the heart of the matter. Of course this hurts if we are in sin, especially if we don’t want to face our sin. But if we truly desire to follow Jesus, we don’t run away from the source of this pain; we run to the Sacrament of Confession because we are glad for the spiritual growth.

What’s your favorite part of the Mass? Most people would immediately answer: “Receiving the Eucharist.” And yet, we cannot truly benefit from uniting ourselves to Jesus in the Eucharist if we are divided from him because we have not utilized the Penitential Rite (at the beginning of Mass).

Perhaps if that part of Mass didn’t happen so quickly, we’d pay more attention to its power to sanctify us. So, we really need to recall our sins before Mass, invite the Sword of the Spirit to prick our consciences, and intentionally offer it during the Penitential Rite.

Then our union with Christ will take us to new levels!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”