Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 31, 2025
First Reading: Hebrews 10.32-39
32But call to mind the former days, in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle of afflictions33And certainly, in one way, by insults and tribulations, you were made a spectacle, but in another way, you became the companions of those who were the object of such behavior34For you even had compassion on those who were imprisoned, and you accepted with gladness being deprived of your goods, knowing that you have a better and more lasting substance35And so, do not lose your confidence, which has a great reward36For it is necessary for you to be patient, so that, by doing the will of God, you may receive the promise37"For, in a little while, and somewhat longer, he who is to come will return, and he will not delay38For my just man lives by faith. But if he were to draw himself back, he would not please my soul.39So then, we are not sons who are drawn away to perdition, but we are sons of faith toward the securing of the soul
Psalm 37
1A Psalm of David himself. Do not choose to imitate the malicious; neither should you envy those who work iniquity2For they will quickly wither away like dry grass, and in like manner to kitchen herbs, they will soon droop3Hope in the Lord and do good, and dwell in the land, and so you shall be pastured with its riches4Delight in the Lord, and he will grant to you the petitions of your heart5Reveal your way to the Lord, and hope in him, and he will accomplish it6And he will bring forth your justice like the light, and your judgment like the midday7Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Do not choose to compete with him who prospers in his way, with the man who does injustice8Cease from wrath and leave behind rage. Do not choose to imitate the malicious9For those who are malicious will be exterminated. But those who remain with the Lord, these will inherit the land10Yet still a little while, and the sinner will not be. And you will search his place and find nothing11But the meek shall inherit the earth, and they will delight in the multitude of peace12The sinner will observe the just, and he will gnash his teeth over him13But the Lord will laugh at him: for he knows in advance that his day will come14The sinners have drawn the sword, they have bent their bow, so as to cast down the poor and the needy, so as to massacre the upright of heart15Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken16A little is better to the just than the many riches of sinners17For the arms of sinners will be crushed, but the Lord confirms the just18The Lord knows the days of the immaculate, and their inheritance will be in eternity19They will not be confounded in an evil time; and in days of famine, they will be satisfied20for sinners will perish. Truly, the adversaries of the Lord, soon after they have been honored and exalted, will fade away, in the same way that smoke fades away21The sinner will lend and not release, but the just one shows compassion and donates22For those who bless him will inherit the earth, but those who curse him will perish23The steps of a man will be directed by the Lord, and he will choose his way24When he falls, he will not be harmed, because the Lord places his hand under him25I have been young, and now I am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his offspring seeking bread26He shows compassion and lends, all day long, and his offspring will be in blessing27Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell forever and ever28For the Lord loves judgment, and he will not abandon his saints. They will be kept safe in eternity. The unjust will be punished, and the offspring of the impious will perish29But the just will inherit the earth, and they will dwell upon it forever and ever30The mouth of the just one will express wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment31The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted32The sinner considers the just one and seeks to put him to death33But the Lord will not abandon him into his hands, nor condemn him, when he will be judged34Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way. And he will exalt you, so as to inherit the land that you may seize. When the sinners will have passed away, then you shall see35I have seen the impious over-exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon36And I passed by, and behold, he was not. And I sought him, and his place was not found37Keep to innocence, and gaze upon fairness: because there are allotments for the peaceful man38But the unjust will be destroyed together: the allotments of the impious will pass away39But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in time of tribulation40And the Lord will help them and free them. And he will rescue them from sinners and save them, because they have hoped in him
Gospel: Mark 4.26-34
26And he said: "The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land27And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it28For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear29And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.30And he said: "To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it31It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth32And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.33And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear34But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, patience, and the quiet yet powerful work of God in our lives. In the letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded of the early Christian community’s perseverance through trials and persecutions. They faced insults, tribulations, and the loss of material possessions, yet they remained steadfast in their faith. This passage encourages us not to lose confidence, for patience and trust in God’s plan will ultimately lead us to receive the promise of eternal life. The just one, we are told, lives by faith, and it is this faith that sustains us even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses two parables to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of God. The first compares the kingdom to a seed that grows quietly and inevitably, even when the sower is unaware of its progress. The second likens the kingdom to a mustard seed, which, though small, grows into a great tree providing shelter for all. These parables remind us that God’s work often happens in hidden and unexpected ways. Just as the seed grows without our full understanding, the kingdom of God can take root in the smallest and seemingly insignificant acts of faith and love. Jesus’ message is one of trust and hope: even when we do not see immediate results, God is always at work, transforming the world through the power of His grace.
These readings are deeply connected. Both call us to trust in God’s plan and to be patient in the face of uncertainty. The early Christians endured suffering because they believed in a future promise, and Jesus’ parables assure us that even the smallest acts of faith can lead to great things. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace this same spirit of trust and perseverance. Let us nurture our faith like a seed, allowing it to grow in the quiet moments and challenging circumstances. May we find the courage to endure trials with patience and to trust that God is always working in our lives, even when we cannot see it. Let us remember that the kingdom of God is not about grand gestures but about the small, consistent acts of love and faith that transform the world.