Jesus teaches with an independent authority–or rather, on the authority of God .

“sovereign freedom” of one who acts without hindrance.

Whereas the scribes are bound to tradition, Jesus is relatively free–

free in the way that only one who lives directly from and to God’s authority is free.

Jesus’ authority is empowering and liberating, it is not oppressive or subjugating.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

He will raise up

Jesus replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?

Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.

For Mary His mother was the hearer of God’s word par excellence.

Jesus does not depreciate His blood relations to His mother.

On the other hand, he elevated it higher than mere relations of the flesh.

 

St. Marianne Cope, virgin

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19

King David went to bring up

In our gospel, the boat containing Jesus and His disciples were buffeted by strong winds and waves in near darkness.

But Jesus sleeps peacefully amidst this turbulence.

His disciples were afraid. They wake Him up and immediately.

In the Jewish tradition, if wind, darkness and water comes together it will generate chaos.

And chaos is the abode of the devil.

In our gospel, the boat containing Jesus and His disciples were buffeted by strong winds and waves in near darkness.

 

 

Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Angela Merici, virgin

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17

So Yahweh sent

The scribes could not accept Jesus’ teaching. He was accused of being in league with the forces of evil,

though he was clearly on the side of what was good.

Jesus is indeed the stronger one. He takes on the forces of evil, and the powers of darkness cannot master him.

Jesus is scathing of those who cannot recognise goodness and who see only evil.

The Word of God teaches us to trust in the divine power and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

With Him, all sins in the world and all evil will be gone through His mighty name.

 

 

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

St. Vincent of Saragossa, deacon and martyr

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10

All the tribes of Israel

Jesus uses imagery culled from everyday life to explain what the kingdom of God is.

It is like peeling a cabbage layer after layer and each time, new truth is encountered.

He reaches especially for symbols of life and growth.

God is not impatient with our growth. God is the one who creates us from nothing and creates us each day of our lives.

From even the tiniest seed planted in a soul, the Kingdom of God can grow

so that the person who trusts in God is a source of nourishment and care for others.

 

Sts. Timothy & Titus, bishops

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Timothy 1:1-8 (or Ti 1:1-5)

From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus,

Jesus continues the preaching ministry that John inaugurated and began to look for collaborators,

like-minded men who would help Him spread the Good News.

In today’s story he calls four fishermen at the Sea of Galilee — Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John.

There was something remarkably compelling

about Jesus to cause these and others to follow him into an uncertain future.

‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘What are Jesus’ disciples meant to be like?’.

anyone can be a disciple.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of Yahweh

On January 25, the faithful celebrate the Conversion of Saint Paul.

Saul was diametrically opposed to Jesus’ teachings.

He received a letter of permission from the high priest in Jerusalem to go beyond the city,

searching from house to house to arrest those who followed

Jesus, bringing them back in chains to stand trial in Jerusalem.

As he took this letter of permission with him on a journey to Damascus,

our Lord appeared to him in His resurrected glory.

Saul had an experience that would not only change his life forever but also change the entire world.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 22:3-16 (or Acts 9:1-22)

"I am a Jew,

Jesus ignored the hope of his disciples that he would be a king.

He spent much of his ministry being misunderstood by his own family,

let's go to the Lord and ask him to lead us and show us how to minister, serve,

and respect those around us so that we can reach them with God's grace.

 

Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Fabian, pope & martyr St. Sebastian, martyr

Ps 80:2-3, 5-7 Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

 

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27

After the death of Saul,

Jesus is the Sower,

He spreads the seed of the word, calling all to repent and believe, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

The seed is spread indiscriminately, far and wide on all kinds of ground.

And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God."

we all understand that, don’t we?

Only those who have ears to hear will be able to understand the power of the story.

 

 St. Francis de Sales, bishop & doctor

 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-17

Jesus called His disciples and from them selected the Twelve who would be His closest collaborators.

The Son of God, the most powerful who can effect anything He wants welcomed human collaborators to Help Him in His task.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Samuel 24:3-21*

(...)Now David and his men