Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: 3 February 2021
Readings at Mass for Wednesday February 3, 2021
Week day (4)
Vestment: Green/Red/White
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
St. Blaise, B.M and St. Ansgar (Opt Mem)
Death Anniversary of Bishop Joseph Egerega (February 3, 2013)
FIRST READING
“The Lord disciplines him whom he loves.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:4-7.11-15)
Brethren: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? — “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm103:1-2.13-14.17-18a (R. see 17ab)
R/. The mercy of the Lord is everlasting
Upon those who hold him in fear
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits. R.
As a father has compassion on his children,
the Lord’s compassion is on those who fear him.
For he knows of what we are made;
he remembers that we are dust. R.
But the mercy of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold him in fear,
upon children’s children his justice,
for those who keep his covenant. R.
ALLELUIA John 10:27
Alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:1-6)
At that time: Jesus came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Knowing people so well may hinder us from knowing them truly. We get so used to what we have known of people that we tend to be blind to what they have become or are becoming. For the people of Jesus’ hometown, ‘This is the Carpenter, surely…’ and they would not accept him.’ The wisdom in his teachings and the reports about his power, even those that were before their very eyes did not fit into their initial knowledge and impression of him, and thus were unacceptable to them. They did not know that the Carpenter was also the Messiah they awaited and hence, rejected him and he could work no miracle there. We must be careful not to let our familiarity blind us to the wonders of God’s ways. Being a Christian in this age and time requires great openness to God’s continual action in the church, in the world and in our very own brothers and sisters. We must be careful not to set a boundary as to the extents of God’s wonders and his ways.
Personal Devotional
Take the song “Create in me a new heart O! God and renew a right spirit within me”
– Begin to renounce and repent from known and unknown pride in you,
– Pray for all Christians for the grace of humility and self-control
– Pray for the spirit of humility upon your life now and always.
Meditation: 1 Peter 5:5
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