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.