Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection January 16, 2025
1st Week in Ordinary Time
16th January 2025 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Hebrews 3:7-14
The Holy Spirit says: Oh, that today you would hear his voice, “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works for forty years. Because of this I was provoked with that generation and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart, and they do not know my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter into my rest.’” Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.
Psalm 95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11 (R. 8)
R/. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Guidelines: God does not reject us because of our sins or failures. He is always ready to touch and heal us with His compassion.
1. Humility and surrender are essential to experience God’s presence and power. The leper in the gospel displays both by saying, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds with tender assurance, “I will; be clean.”
2. Humility and surrender lead to healing, and healing brings the duty to share God’s goodness with others, as the healed leper does.
3. However, the letter to the Hebrews warns us against the danger of hard hearts. Despite witnessing God’s mercy repeatedly, the Israelites often rebelled and turned away. This serves as a caution for us, as sin can easily deceive and lead us astray.
4. We must remain vigilant, staying firm in our faith and resisting rebellion and stubbornness.
Practice: Don’t be discouraged by your weaknesses or failures. Instead, trust in God, humble yourself, and let His healing touch transform you.
