This Week’s Gospel Message for Sunday, January 20th is from John 2:1-11. “When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’…Jesus told them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’…And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine…his disciples began to believe in him.”
“This Gospel passage ends with John’s observation that ‘(the) disciples began to believe in him’ (John 2:11). But one person in this scene believed in him already—his mother.”
Source: Pastoral Patterns, Winter 2018-2019
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Heb 5:1-10; Mark 2:18-22
Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr (Memorial) – Agnes was one of the most popular early Roman martyrs, and her feast has been celebrated on this day since the fourth century. Because of the connection of her name to the Latin word for lamb (agnus), she is often pictured with a lamb, which is also a reminder of her sacrifice and innocence. (Source: Living With Christ, January 2019)
Tuesday Heb 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children – “The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” (Source: www.usccb.org)
Wednesday Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Mark 3:1-6
Thursday Heb 7:25—8:6; Mark 3:7-12
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – After earning doctorates in canon and civil law, Francis rejected a civil career to enter religious life. Ordained and named bishop of Geneva, he was a principal leader of the Catholic Reformation. Together with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. (Source: Living With Christ, January 2019)
Friday Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18
The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle (Feast) – Paul’s conversion was a turning point in the history of the early Church. It was cause for celebration that a persecutor became a follower of Christ and later a teacher of the nations. (Source: Living With Christ, January 2019)
Saturday 2 Tim 1:1-8; Mark 3:20-21
Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops (Memorial) – These two men were disciples of St. Paul, and Paul’s letters to them are part of the New Testament. Timothy became bishop of Ephesus, and Titus became bishop of Crete. (Source: Living With Christ, January 2019)