Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 28, 2018
First Reading: Deuteronomy 18.15-20
15The Lord your God will raise up for you a PROPHET from your nation and from your brothers, similar to me. You shall listen to him16just as you petitioned of the Lord your God at Horeb, when the assembly was gathered together, and you said: ‘Let me no longer hear the voice of the Lord my God, and let me no longer see this very great fire, lest I die.17And the Lord said to me: ‘They have spoken all these things well18I will raise up a prophet for them, from the midst of their brothers, similar to you. And I will place my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all the things that I will instruct him19But against anyone who is not willing to listen to his words, which he will speak in my name, I will stand forth as the avenger20But if a prophet, having been corrupted by arrogance, chooses to speak, in my name, things which I did not instruct him to say, or to speak in the name of foreign gods, he shall be put to death
Psalm 95
1The Praise of a Canticle, of David himself. Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior2Let us anticipate his presence with confession, and let us sing joyfully to him with psalms3For the Lord is a great God and a great King over all gods4For in his hand are all the limits of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his5For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands formed the dry land6Come, let us adore and fall prostrate, and let us weep before the Lord who made us7For he is the Lord our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand8If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts9as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me, though they had seen my works10For forty years, I was offended by that generation, and I said: These have always strayed in heart11And these have not known my ways. So I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7.32-35
32But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God33But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided34And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband35Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord
Gospel: Mark 1.21-28
21And they entered into Capernaum. And entering into the synagogue promptly on the Sabbaths, he taught them22And they were astonished over his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not like the scribes23And in their synagogue, there was a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out24saying: "What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.25And Jesus admonished him, saying, "Be silent, and depart from the man.26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, departed from him27And they were all so amazed that they inquired among themselves, saying: "What is this? And what is this new doctrine? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.28And his fame went out quickly, throughout the entire region of Galilee
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound insights into God's guidance and authority. The first reading from Deuteronomy introduces the concept of a prophet, a leader chosen by God to speak His words, fulfilling the people's request to avoid direct divine communication. This prophet is granted authority, with a warning against those who mislead. In 1 Corinthians, Paul discusses the merits of singleness and marriage, advising that singleness allows undivided focus on God, while marriage brings worldly concerns. He offers this guidance for their benefit, encouraging a life dedicated to worship.
The Gospel from Mark vividly illustrates Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophetic figure. Teaching with authority, unlike the scribes, Jesus demonstrates His power by casting out an unclean spirit, leaving the crowd in awe. This scene showcases Jesus's divine authority, embodying the prophet Moses foretold.
These readings intertwine to emphasize focusing on God's will. Deuteronomy's prophet is realized in Jesus, who teaches with divine authority. Paul's advice on singleness and marriage encourages prioritizing spiritual focus, aligning with Jesus's teachings. In our lives, we are called to trust in God's authority and guidance, whether through prophetic leaders or personal devotion. Let us seek to align our lives with God's will, trusting in His wisdom and authority to navigate our choices and challenges.