MASS READINGS & SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Thursday - January 26, 2023

Thursday - January 26, 2023

"We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us."

--Saint Teresa of Avila

 

January 26 2023

 

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishopsLectionary: 520/316

Reading 1 2 Tm 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

OrTI 1:1-5

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.

Responsorial PsalmPS 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 7-8A, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Alleluia         

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A lamp to my feet is your word,

a light to my path.

R. 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.”

 

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How to Be Fearless Evangelizers

The alternate Gospel reading specifically recommended for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus is Luke 10:1-9. After Jesus says, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few,” he adds, “Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” It takes courage to lead others to salvation. We live in a world where non-Christians (and sometimes even unchristian “Christians”) want to subdue us with their unholy, immoral beliefs and ways.

 

Saint Paul said to Timothy and now says to us (today’s reading from 2nd Timothy, chapter 1) that God did not give us a spirit of cowardice. The fear of speaking up about Jesus is not from God. The Holy Spirit gives us power and love and self-control. “So do not be ashamed of your testimony about our Lord,” Paul says.

 

When we let the Holy Spirit stir up into flame our calling to share the Good News, we are given supernatural power to back up our words. Sadly, we don’t see this happening today as much of the first Christians experienced. We’ve been influenced by a secular culture that disbelieves in the miracle power that belongs to the followers of Christ. What should be normal for us is what was normal for Christians in Paul’s time. The Good News is: The Holy Spirit hasn’t changed! When we let the fire of the Holy Spirit renew us and overtake us, miracles do happen.

 

The Holy Spirit also gives us love — love so passionate for the people around us that we become highly motivated to make Jesus visible to them. And with the self-control that the Spirit gives us, we can choose to overcome the spirit of cowardice.

 

Opportunities occur every day in our ordinary circumstances. Everything we do should reveal the light of Christ. Who around you is suffering through a tragedy or difficulty? They’re instinctively seeking a light that will lead them to hope, to love, to healing, and to the restoration of goodness. Who around you has insufficient faith? They want to be assured that God cares; they’re ready to grow.

 

If you feel unprepared to use current opportunities to let Christ shine from you, avail yourself of the extra grace that’s available in the Sacrament of Reconciliation to become the light that you are meant to be. Let your concern for others be the fuel for your light.

 

Today's Prayer

 

Forgive me, Lord, for not being bold, serving others with the gifts You have entrusted to me. Give me your strength to be fearless and share Your light wherever You desire. Amen.

 

 

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!”