Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 31, 2021
First Reading: Deuteronomy 18.15-20
15The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;16According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.17And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.18I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.19And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.20But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Psalm 95
1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.6O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.7For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.10Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7.32-35
32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
Gospel: Mark 1.21-28
21And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of authority, focus, and the call to follow God wholeheartedly. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses speaks of a prophet who will arise from among the people, one who will speak God’s words with authority. This prophet is not just a figure of the past; for Christians, this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who teaches with divine authority as we see in the Gospel. The second reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us that our primary focus should be on God, whether we are married or unmarried. St. Paul emphasizes that our ultimate goal is to please God and live without hindrance to worship Him.
In the Gospel, Mark portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophet promised in Deuteronomy. Jesus teaches in the synagogue with authority, not like the scribes who relied on human traditions. When He encounters the man with an unclean spirit, His authority is demonstrated powerfully as He commands the spirit to leave. The people are amazed, recognizing that Jesus’ teaching and actions are unlike anything they have seen before. This scene reminds us that Jesus is not just a teacher but the Holy One of God, who has the power to transform lives.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we listening to Jesus with the same openness and trust that the people in Capernaum showed? Do we allow His teaching to guide us, or are we distracted by the concerns of the world? Like the unmarried woman in St. Paul’s letter, we are called to be holy in body and spirit, focusing on what truly matters. Let us ask ourselves: Where are we placing our attention and priorities? Are we seeking to please God, or are we divided by worldly cares? Jesus’ authority and power are still at work in our lives today. Let us surrender to His will, trusting that He will guide us and free us from anything that hinders our relationship with Him.