Wednesday in the first week of the year

Invitation

May I draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation is intended to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Consideration

The calling of Samuel is a wonderful story. It is typical of almost every story of calling. Some callings happen suddenly, as if struck by lightning, as in the stories of the prophets. But most callings come about differently. It is as if a drop falls again and again, unnoticed, until one suddenly begins to pay attention and can no longer ignore the sound. Such is the voice of God. At first, one often pushes it away, saying, ‘It must be my imagination; I am just imagining things.’ Finally, it becomes unmistakably clear. Then we say: Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

FIRST READING                1  Sam. 3:1-10, 19-20

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

From the first book of Samuel

In those days
the young Samuel served in the sanctuary of the Lord,
under the supervision of Eli.
The word of the Lord was rare then
and visions were not common.
One day Eli lay down to sleep
in his usual place;
his eyes were growing dim
and he could no longer see.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out
and Samuel was lying asleep in the sanctuary of the Lord,
where the ark of God stood.
Then the Lord called,
“Samuel!”
Samuel answered:
“Here I am.”
He hurried to Eli and said:
“Here I am. Did you call me?”
But Eli replied:
“I did not call; go back to sleep.”
Then the Lord called again:
“Samuel!”
Samuel got up, went to Eli and said:
“Here I am. You called me, didn’t you?”
Eli replied:
“I didn’t call you, my boy; go back to sleep.”
Samuel did not yet know the Lord;
a word from the Lord had never been revealed to him.
And again the Lord called Samuel, now for the third time.
Samuel got up, went to Eli and said:
“Here I am. You called me, didn’t you?”
Then Eli understood that it was the Lord who was calling the boy.
And he said to Samuel:
“Go to sleep, and if the Lord calls you,
you must say:
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
So Samuel went back to sleep in his usual place.
Then the Lord came and stood before him and called,
as he had done before:
“Samuel, Samuel!”
And Samuel answered,
“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Samuel grew up; the Lord was with him
and did not let any of his words go unfulfilled.
And all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew
that Samuel had indeed become a prophet of the Lord.

INTERLUDIUM                   Ps. 40(39), 2, 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

Yes, I come, Lord, to do your will.

With great confidence I have hoped in the Lord,
He has bent down to me,
heard my cry.

Blessed is the man who places his hope in the Lord,
who does not associate with the rebellious and the unrighteous.

You have never desired gifts and offerings,
but you have opened my ears to your voice.

You do not ask for burnt offerings or sacrifices from me;
so I said: Yes, I come, as it is written of me:
To do Your will, my God, is my joy,
Your law is engraved on my heart.

In the assemblies I have preached righteousness,
my lips have not been sealed, Lord, You know it.

ALLELUIA                      I  Sam. 3:9; John 6:69b

Alleluia.
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening;
your words are words of eternal life.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL                  Mark 1:29-39

Many who were suffering from all kinds of diseases were healed by Jesus.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

At that time,
Jesus came out of the synagogue
and went with James and John
to the house of Simon and Andrew.
Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever;
they immediately told him about her.
Jesus went to her,
took her by the hand and helped her up;
she was freed from her fever and served them.
In the evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were sick or possessed.
The whole town gathered at the door.
He healed many who were sick with various diseases
and drove out many demons,
but he did not allow the evil spirits to speak,
because they knew him.
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up,
went outside and went to a lonely place where
He continued to pray. Simon and his companions
came after Him, and when they found Him, they said,
“Everyone is looking for You.” He replied, “Let us
go somewhere else, to the villages around here, so
that I may preach there too. For this is why I came.”
He replied:
“Let us go somewhere else,
to the villages around here,
so that I may preach there too.
For that is why I came.”
He travelled throughout Galilee,
preaching in their synagogues
and driving out evil spirits.

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Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

245. God, who calls us to generous dedication and to give everything,
gives us the strength and light we need to continue.
At the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much,
remains ever present. He does not abandon us, He does not leave us alone,
because He has definitively bound Himself to our earth, and His love
leads us to find ever new paths. Praise be to Him!

To be continued
Every day at 1 am.