FIRST READING      
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4: 12-16)

Brethren: The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19:8.9:10.15 (R. John 6:63c)
R. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect;
it revives the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are steadfast;
they give wisdom to the simple. R.

The precepts of the Lord are right;
they gladder the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear;
it gives light to the eyes. R.

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

The fear of the Lord is pure,
abiding forever.
The judgements of the Lord are true;
they are, all of them, just. R.

May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favour in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer! R.

ALLELUIA Luke 4:18
Alleluia. The Lord has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives. Alleluia.

GOSPEL        
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:13- 17)

At that time: Jesus went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with the tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Imagine yourself a sinner like levi; Yet Jesus broke the protocols and gave himself up on the wood of the cross just to save you. It is an unmerited favour. In response to that, levi leaves everything to follow Jesus (Mark 2:14). Moreover, he draws people like him also to follow Jesus (Mark 2:15). We are all beneficiaries of the unmerited favour. He took our nature and had a share in our weaknesses that he might help us out of them as a wounded healer (Heb 4:12-16). St John tells us that, having been healed, we too must help others to become healed (1 John 3:16). We cannot do this well if we look down on others as the teachers of law and the Pharisees did (Mark 2:16).

FIRST READING
“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest. ”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4:1-5, 11)

Brethren: While the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall never enter my rest,”’ although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this place he said, “They shall never enter my rest.” Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 78:3 and 4bc.6c-7.8 (R. 7b)
R. Never forget the deeds of the Lord!

The things we have heard and understood,
the things our fathers have told us,
but will tell them to the next generation:
the glories of the LORD and his might. R.

They should arise and declare it to their children,
that they should set their hope in God,
and never forget God’s deeds,
but keep every one of his commands, R.

R. Never forget the deeds of the Lord!

So that they might not be like their fathers,
a defiant and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was fickle,
whose spirit was not faithful to God. R.

ALLELUIA Luke 7:16
Alleluia. A great prophet has risen among us, and God has visited his people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2: 1- 12)

When Jesus returned to Capemaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like this? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they questioned like this within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question like this in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

The First Reading of today shows us that the Israelites made a choice of being ruled by a human being rather than having God as their king. However, they have to bear the consequences of such a demand. The four men in the gospel manifested their trust in Jesus and brought a paralytic to his side hoping for a cure. Jesus manifested his divinity as he forgave the sins of the paralyzed man and cured him of his ailment. The message of today’s readings is that we should be ready to face the consequences of the choices we make in life. Hence the need to trust in God rather than on our own strength and thus make the right choices so that the paralyzing situations of our life can be cured and our sins forgiven by God.

FIRST READING      
“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today.”’
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 3:7- 14)

Brethren: As the Holy Spirit says, “Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts; they have not known my ways. ’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall never enter my rest.”’ Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Ps 95 :6-7abc.7d and 8-9. 10-11 (R.  8a)
R. O that today you would listen to his voice!
    Harden not your hearts.

O come; let us bow and bend low.
Let us kneel before the God who made us,
for he is our God and we
the people who belong to his pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand. R.

O that today you would listen to his voice!
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert
when your forebears put me to the test;
when they tried me, though they saw my work.” R.

R. O that today you would listen to his voice!
    Harden not your hearts.

For forty years I wearied of that generation,
and I said, ‘Their hearts are astray;
this people does not know my ways.’
Then I took an oath in my anger,
‘Never shall they enter my rest. ”’ R.

ALLELUIA (Matthew 4:23)
Alleluia. Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL        
“The leprosy left him, and he was wade clean.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:40-45)

At that time: A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

In today’s First Reading we witness how the experience of Isreal’s defeat made them realize their need for God’s support and thus they brought the ark of their God into their midst. Likewise the leper knew he could not cure himself but needed Jesus’ devine touch that was why he said, “If you want to, you can cure me.” it becomes inevitable therefore for us as human beings to always rely on God’s help in all the daily battles of our life. For, cut off from Jesus we can do nothing. (John 15:5)

FIRST READING      
“He had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become merciful.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 2:14-18)

Since the children share in flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 105:1-2.3-4.6-7.8-9 (R. Sa)
R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Or:  Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name.
Make known his deeds among the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works! R.

Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Turn to the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face. R.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Or:  Alleluia.

O children of Abraham, his servant,
O descendants of the Jacob he chose, he,
the Lord, is our God;
his judgements are in all the earth. R.

He remembers his covenant forever:
the promise he ordained for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac. R.

ALLELUIA John 10:27
Alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“He healed many who were sick with diseases.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark1:29-39)

At that time: Jesus left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother- in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered together about the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him followed him, and they found him and said to him, “Every one is searching for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Today’s First Reading opens our eyes to the reality of helping others to discover their vocation in life. Equally, the Gospel shows Jesus as having concern for our physical wellbeing and the growth of God’s kingdom here on earth.  Therefore, as parents’ guardians, teachers, formators or elders, we should help the young ones and those confused in discerning their vocation in life just as the priest Eli did to Samuel.  Additionally, just like Jesus we should care for the sick and the dejected in society and assist in the establishment and spread of God’s kingdom on earth.

FIRST READING
“It was fitting that he should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. ”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 2:5-12)

It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels, You have crowned him with glory and honour, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you!”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Psalm  8:2ab and 5.6-7a.7b-9 (R. cf. 7a)
R/. You have given your Son
power over the works of your hands.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is your name through all the earth!
What is man that you should keep him in mind,
the son of man that you care for him? R.

Yet you have made him little lower than the angels;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hands. R.

You put all things under his feet,
 all of them, sheep and oxen,
yes, even the cattle of the fields,
birds of the air, and fish of the sea
that make their way through the waters. R

ALLELUIA  1 Thessalonians 2:13
Alleluia. Accept the word of God, not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“He taught them as one who had authority.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark l: 21b-28)

[In the city of Capernaum,] Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Today we are reminded of the fact that what is in us is greater than what is in the world. And that: “We are from God and have overcome all things.” Often, men does not recognize the power that God has bestowed on him.  We allow fear to take the best from us. This truth, spoken by the psalmist, is echoed in the first reading: that God make man higher than the angels and placed all things under his authority.  This is what we have inherited through our adoption in Christ Jesus.  This authority issues from CHRIST, who puts fear into evil forces and they obey Him.  We must remain attached to Jesus to do greater works that HE did.

Collect
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done, and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord…

FIRST READING
“He has spoken to us by a Son.”
The beginning of the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 1:1 – 6

In many and various ways God spoke of old to  our fathers by  the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 97: 1 and 2b.6 and 7c.9 (R.7c)
R/. Worship God, all you angels.

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Justice and right are the
foundation of his throne. R.

The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.
All you angels, worship him. R.

For you indeed are the LORD
most high above all the earth,
exalted far above all gods. R.

ALLELUIA Mark 1:15
Alleluia. The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL        
“Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1 : 14-20)

After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
The exalted place of Jesus Christ in our time is highlighted today. Jesus is all that matters in our life now, because He has replaced the intercessory roles of the judges and prophets of old.  He is the choice of God and the Son the Father has begotten.  He ranks higher than the angels.  He is the brightness of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s own being sustaining the universe with His powerful Word.  Jesus is the One that the Father told the world to listen to. This is why He called the apostles to follow Him. We must in all things cling to Jesus, who is all that we need, and follow Him in all His ways.

FIRST READING
“Come to the waters, hear, that your soul may live. ”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 55:1-11)

Thus says the Lord: “Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, merciful love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.  Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Isaiah 12:2-3.4bcd.5-6 (R. 3)
R/. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. R/.

“Give thanks to the Lord
call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the nations,
proclaim that his name is exalted.” R/.

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” R/.

SECOND READING          
“The Spirit, the water, and the blood.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 5:1-9)

Beloved: Every one who believes that Jesus is tire Christ has been born of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the one begotten by him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA Cf. John 1.29
Alleluia. John saw Jesus coming towards him and said: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
You are my Son, the beloved,’ my favour rests on you.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark1:7-11)

At that time: John preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Gospel of the Lord.