Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection January 30, 2025
3rd Week in Ordinary Time
30th January 2025 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25
Brothers and sisters: Since through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)
R/. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Faith is a light that has to be shown and testified in radiance of goodness. True faith surely stirs up one another to love and good works
Abundance must be the target of every follower of Christ. The statement, “To the one who has more, more will be given” sounds very unfair against the principle of social justice. But such a problem arises when taken in the material sense. It is not at all in terms of material abundance and affluence.
It is the abundance of goodness. If there is goodness, that must be constantly cultivated, nurtured, exercised and fostered. There are no half-measures. It must be shown and shown in plenty. The measure we give will be the measure we get. If we give ourselves generously without tainted considerations, we will also receive abundantly. But if we give only very little because of profitable calculations and self-seeking interests, then surely, what we receive will also be very little.
If we have light within, it must shine and radiate, for there is nothing hidden in the sight of God. One day, everything will be made manifest at the appointed time. But, often in human life, there is a great missing of this abundance and light.
It is because our hearts are not sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies are not washed with pure water. It is because we do not hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. It is because we do not draw near God with a true heart in full assurance of faith.
Ultimately, heeding God and following his ways is free choice and God does not want to force anyone. This is what Jesus implies, when he says, “if anyone has ears, let him hear”
My Practice: Faith and goodness are like treasures which are not to be just preserved, but are to be shared generously.
