This Week’s Gospel Message for Sunday, January 19th is from John 1:29-34.
“John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ . . . John testified further, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. . .the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” ‘Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.’”
“John was called to make Jesus known by baptizing with water. Now it is our turn to listen for God’s call. Then we can respond, as we do in today’s psalm, ‘Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.’” Source: Pastoral Patterns, Winter 2019-2020
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 1 Sam 15:16-23; Mark 2:18-22
Tuesday 1 Sam 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28
Saint Agnes, Virgin and 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. . .she was martyred at a young age (twelve or thirteen) during a Roman persecution.”
Wednesday 1 Sam 17:32-33, 37, 40-51, 19-20; Mark 3:1-6
Thursday 1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Mark 3:7-12
Friday 1 Sam 24:3-21; Mark 3:13-19
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and 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.”
Saturday 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 2020