This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, January 24th is from Mark 1:14-20.
“As [Jesus] passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea . . . Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee . . . and followed him.”
“We can imagine what life was like for the four fishermen in the Gospel. Most days they went out to sea, caught nets filled with fish, sold them at market, then went home to their families. With Jesus in their midst, this whole routine fell away. Every bit of it paled in importance to spending every minute of every day with the one who changes the world. Moreover, they were now charged with changing the world as well.” Source: Pastoral Patterns, Winter 2020-2021
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday 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.
Tuesday 2 Tim 1:1-8; Mark 3:31-35
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. Each worked with Paul and became a leader of a Pauline community: Timothy, bishop of Ephesus, and Titus, bishop of Crete. It is believed that Timothy was stoned to death, while Titus died of old age.
Wednesday Heb 10:11-18; Mark 4:1-20
Thursday Heb 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – Born near Aquino, Italy, he studied at the Benedictine Monastery at Monte Cassino and joined the newly formed Dominicans. He wrote many books on Scripture and theology. He was also a man of simple devotion, whose hymns such as Pange Lingua, Tantum Ergo, and Adoro Te Devote are still sung today.
Friday Heb 10:32-39; Mark 4:26-34
Saturday Heb 11:1-2, 8-19; Mark 4:35-41
Source: Living With Christ, January 2021