Entrance Ant.
All the earth shall bow down before you, O God, and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!
Collet
Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. Through our Lord…
FIRST READING
“Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”
A reading from the first Book of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:3b -10, 19)
In those days: Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 40:2 and 4ab.7-Sa.8b-9.10 (R. cf. 8a and 9a)
R. See, I have come, Lord, to do your will.
I waited, I waited for the Lord,
and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry.
He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God. R.
You delight not in sacrifice and offerings,
but in an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim.
Then I said, “See, I have come.” R.
In the scroll of the book it stands written of me:
“I delight to do your will, O my God;
your instruction lies deep within me.” R.
Your justice I have proclaimed
in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed;
you know it, O Lord. R.
SECOND READING
“Your bodies are members of Christ.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20)
Brethren: The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA cf. John 1:41.17b
Alleluia. We have found the Messiah, who is Christ; grace and truth came through him. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“They saw where he was staying,‘ and they stayed with him ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John1:35-42)
At that time: John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Two different rejections today, God delivered Israel from slavery. They rejected God as their king. Surprisingly, God let them be. Jesus came to save his people from sin, and they rejected his authority, accusing him of blasphemy. Life’s challenges blinded them from the presence of God’s goodness. Providentially, Jesus proved his authority by healing the paralyzed man. He teaches us that what God offers in him has no substitute. He is our king and saviour. We must, therefore, celebrate and imitate the faith of the four men, who trusted that Jesus was the answer to the paralytic’s problem, and put our faith and compassion to work for others in just the same way. Through our faith and prayers, God blesses uncountable people out there. Lord, forgive us, heal us and raise us up. Amen.