Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 13, 2023

First Reading: Hebrews 4.1-5, 11

¹Therefore, we should be afraid, lest the promise of entering into his rest may be relinquished, and some of you may be judged to be lacking²For this was announced to us in a similar manner as to them. But the mere hearing of the word did not benefit them, since it was not joined together with a faith in those things that they heard³For we who have believed shall enter into rest, in the same manner as he said: "So it is as I have sworn in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest!" And certainly, this is when the works from the foundation of the world have been finished⁴For, in a certain place, he spoke about the seventh day in this manner: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.⁵And in this place again: "They shall not enter into my rest!¹¹Therefore, let us hasten to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall into the same example of unbelief

Psalm 78

Psalms

Chapter 78

¹The understanding of Asaph. O my people, attend to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth²I will open my mouth in parables. I will speak about concepts that are from the beginning³We have heard and known such great things, as our fathers have described to us⁴These things have not been hidden from their sons in any generation: declaring the praises of the Lord, and his virtues, and the wonders that he has done⁵And he has received testimony with Jacob, and he has set a law within Israel. Such great things, he has commanded our fathers, so as to make these things known to their sons⁶so that another generation might know them, and so that the sons, who will be born and who will grow up, shall describe them to their sons⁷So then, may they put their hope in God, and may they not forget the works of God, and may they seek his commandments⁸May they not become like their fathers, a perverse and exasperating generation: a generation that does not straighten their heart and whose spirit is not trustworthy with God⁹The sons of Ephraim, who bend and shoot the bow, have been turned back in the day of battle¹⁰They have not kept the covenant of God. And they were not willing to walk in his law¹¹And they have been forgetful of his benefits, and of his miracle, which he revealed to them¹²He performed miracles in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Tanis¹³He broke the sea and he led them through. And he stationed the waters, as if in a vessel¹⁴And he led them with a cloud by day, and with illumination by fire throughout the night¹⁵He broke through the rock in the wasteland, and he gave them to drink, as if from the great abyss¹⁶He brought forth water from the rock, and he conducted the waters, as if they were rivers¹⁷And yet, they continued to sin against him. In a waterless place, they provoked the Most High with resentment¹⁸And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking for food according to their desires¹⁹And they spoke badly about God. They said, "Would God be able to prepare a table in the desert²⁰He struck the rock, and so waters flowed and the torrents flooded, but would even he be able to provide bread, or provide a table, for his people?²¹Therefore, the Lord heard, and he was dismayed, and a fire was kindled within Jacob, and an anger ascended into Israel²²For they neither put their trust in God, nor did they hope in his salvation²³And he commanded the clouds from above, and he opened the doors of heaven²⁴And he rained down manna upon them to eat, and he gave them the bread of heaven²⁵Man ate the bread of Angels. He sent them provisions in abundance²⁶He transferred the south wind from heaven, and, in his virtue, he brought in the Southwest wind²⁷And he rained down flesh upon them, as if it were dust, and feathered birds, as if they were the sand of the sea²⁸And they fell down in the midst of their camp, encircling their tabernacles²⁹And they ate until they were greatly satisfied, and he brought to them according to their desires³⁰They were not cheated out of what they wanted. Their food was still in their mouth³¹and then the wrath of God came upon them. And he slew the fat ones among them, and he impeded the elect of Israel³²In all these things, they continued to sin, and they were not trustworthy with his miracles³³And their days faded away into vanity, and their years with haste³⁴When he slew them, then they sought him. And they returned, and they drew near to him in the early morning³⁵And they were mindful that God is their helper and that the Most High God is their redeemer³⁶And they chose him with their mouth, and then they lied to him with their tongue³⁷For their heart was not upright with him, nor have they been living faithfully in his covenant³⁸Yet he is merciful, and he will pardon their sins. And he will not destroy them. And he has abundantly turned aside his own wrath. And he did not enflame his wrath entirely³⁹And he remembered that they are flesh: with a spirit that goes forth and does not return⁴⁰How often did they provoke him in the desert and stir him to wrath in a waterless place⁴¹And they turned back and tempted God, and they exasperated the Holy One of Israel⁴²They did not remember his hand, in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of the one troubling them⁴³Thus, he positioned his signs in Egypt and his wonders in the field of Tanis⁴⁴And he turned their rivers into blood, along with their rain showers, so that they could not drink⁴⁵He sent among them the common fly, and it devoured them, and the frog, and it scattered them⁴⁶And he gave up their fruits to mold and their labors to the locust⁴⁷And he slew their vineyards with hail and their mulberry trees with severe frost⁴⁸And he delivered their cattle to the hail and their possessions to fire⁴⁹And he sent the wrath of his indignation among them: indignation and wrath and tribulation, sent forth by evil angels⁵⁰He made way for the path of his anger. He did not spare their souls from death. And he enclosed their beasts of burden in death⁵¹And he struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt: the first-fruits of all their labor in the tabernacles of Ham⁵²And he took away his own people like sheep, and he led them through the wilderness like a flock⁵³And he led them out in hope, and they did not fear. And the sea covered their enemies⁵⁴And he led them to the mountain of his sanctification: the mountain that his right hand had acquired. And he cast out the Gentiles before their face. And he divided their land by lot to them, with a line of distribution⁵⁵And he caused the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles⁵⁶Yet they tempted and aggravated God Most High, and they did not keep his testaments⁵⁷And they turned themselves aside, and they did not serve the covenant. In the same manner as their fathers, they were turned backwards, like a crooked bow⁵⁸They impelled him to anger on their hills, and they provoked him to rivalry with their graven images⁵⁹God listened, and he spurned them, and he reduced Israel greatly, almost to nothing⁶⁰And he rejected the tabernacle of Shiloh, his tabernacle where he had dwelt among men⁶¹And he delivered their virtue into captivity, and their beauty into the hands of the enemy⁶²And he enclosed his people with the sword, and he spurned his inheritance⁶³Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins were not lamented⁶⁴Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows did not weep⁶⁵And the Lord was awakened, as if out of sleep, and like a powerful man impaired by wine⁶⁶And he struck his enemies on the back. He gave them over to everlasting disgrace⁶⁷And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim⁶⁸But he chose the tribe of Judah: mount Zion, which he loved⁶⁹And he built up his sanctuary, like a single-horned beast, in the land that he founded for all ages⁷⁰And he chose his servant David, and he took him from the flocks of the sheep: he received him from following the ewes with their young⁷¹in order to pasture Jacob his servant and Israel his inheritance⁷²And he fed them with the innocence of his heart. And he led them with the understanding of his hands

Gospel: Mark 2.1-12

Mark

Chapter 2

¹And after some days, he again entered into Capernaum²And it was heard that he was in the house. And so many gathered that there was no room left, not even at the door. And he spoke the word to them³And they came to him, bringing a paralytic, who was being carried by four men⁴And when they were not able to present him to him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. And opening it, they lowered down the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying⁵Then, when Jesus had seen their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you.⁶But some of the scribes were sitting in that place and thinking in their hearts⁷"Why is this man speaking in this way? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins, but God alone?⁸At once, Jesus, realizing in his spirit that they were thinking this within themselves, said to them: "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts⁹Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up, take up your stretcher, and walk?¹⁰But so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic¹¹"I say to you: Rise up, take up your stretcher, and go into your house.¹²And immediately he got up, and lifting up his stretcher, he went away in the sight of them all, so that they all wondered. And they honored God, by saying, "We have never seen anything like this.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, rest, and the divine authority of Jesus Christ. In the first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded of God’s promise of rest, which is not merely a physical repose but a spiritual state of trust and surrender to God’s plan. The author warns us against unbelief, which can prevent us from entering into this rest. The passage emphasizes that true faith is not just hearing the word of God but living it out in obedience and trust. In the Gospel, Mark presents a vivid scene of Jesus healing a paralytic, which is both a physical and spiritual restoration. The faith of the paralytic and his friends moves Jesus to forgive sins and restore health, demonstrating His divine authority to heal both body and soul. The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on faith as the foundation for receiving God’s grace. In Hebrews, faith is the key to entering into God’s rest, while in Mark, faith leads to the forgiveness of sins and physical healing. Both readings remind us that faith is not passive but active—it requires trust, perseverance, and surrender to God’s will. The scribes in the Gospel, who question Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, represent those who allow doubt and legalism to hinder their faith. In contrast, the paralytic and his friends exemplify the kind of faith that overcomes obstacles and leads to transformation. In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine our own faith. Do we truly trust in God’s promises, or do we allow fear and doubt to hold us back? The paralytic’s friends teach us the importance of interceding for others and persisting in prayer, even when the path seems impossible. Let us strive to live out our faith with courage and humility, knowing that God’s rest and healing are available to us. May we, like the crowd in Capernaum, marvel at the wonders of God and give Him glory in all that we do.