Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Readings at Mass for Wednesday, January 20, 2021
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Second Week of Ordinary Time Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
SAINT FABIAN, Pope and Martyr SAINT SEBASTIAN, Martyr
Death Anniversary of Bishop John Moore SMA of Bauchi (20/01/2010)
Blessed Cyprian M.I Tansi: Father Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was born in Nigeria in 1903. He was brought up by the missionaries and trained as a teacher and a catechist. Later he decided to join the seminary and in 1937 he was ordained a priest. In 1950 he left his Diocese in order to go to England where he joined the Cistercian Abbey of Mount St Bernard. He had been singled out as the ideal candidate to be trained in England and then return to establish a Trappist Monastery in the Diocese of Onitsha in Nigeria. Fr. Tansi lived the monastic life with great faith and humility. Absorbed in prayer, he was a living example of patience and charity. Early in 1964 he was diagnosed with aortic aneurysm and died two weeks later on 20 January, 1964.
FIRST READING Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:1-11)
Brethren: if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affections and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
R. Your anger turned away and you comforted me. “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.
ALLELUIA 2 Corinthians 5: 19
Alleluia. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia
GOSPEL
He sells all that he has and buys that field. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 13:44-46)
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
In the First Reading of today, we are taught that humility exalts a person while pride humiliates a person. Hence, God exalted Jesus above all else because of his humility and obedience. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that the ultimate goal is the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, everything we do should be geared towards attaining this heavenly kingdom. Today, as we celebrate the feast of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi who humbles himself and sought God through his austere life and mortification to attain the heavenly kingdom and the crown of glory, may his intercession make us humble Christians who sincerely and genuinely desire the kingdom of God.
Personal Devotional: Day 19
21 Day Novena for Personal and Family Restoration in the New Year 2021 (2nd January – 23rd January 2021)
Fasting Guideline: (i) Fast on the first day of the prayers, (ii) Every Fridays throughout the period and (iii) The last day of the prayers from 6am – 6pm (If you have the grace to fast from 6am-12noon or 6am-6pm in the 21days of the prayers you’re free to do so). Note: The sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers are please advised to exercise caution in the fast.
1. Spend this remaining three days in thanksgiving to the Almighty God for His mercies and love. Spend quality time in sincere worship, because God is a Spirit and those who worship HIM, must worship Him in spirit and in truth. May God in His infinite mercies shine His face on you, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
2. Recite the Rosary (Glorious Mysteries): Offer this mystery in thanksgiving to God for the life of your family, siblings and friends.
3. Prayer of Confirmation and trust in God
Lord, God Almighty, I thank you for protecting me from every form of evil and bringing me the gift of your divine health. I thank you for breaking the chains of oppression and delivering me from every form of sin, sickness, disease and lie of the enemy. I thank you for the powerful name of Jesus to which every knee shall bow. Thank you for giving me your authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall harm me. Thank you for your full armor, your name, your most precious Blood and your Holy Spirit. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Thank you heavenly father for all your protection and provisions, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forevermore. Amen
**At the end of your 21 – Day Novena, we advise that you make a thanksgiving offering to God in your Church or to a Priest.
May God answer you and grant you your heart desires in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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