Mass Readings For January 30, 2021 – Saturday

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading – Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
and Sarah herself was sterile
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

All these died in faith.
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar
and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,
they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
of whom it was said,
Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R. (see 68) Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old.
that he would save us from our sins
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the bonds of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

 

Alleluia – John 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel – Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

 

Reflection: The Meaning of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle in Your Life

Reflection: My Take on Being Pro-Life as a Filipino Catholic

January 22 is Day of prayer for the unborn and of penance for the sins committed through acts of abortion. Here is a 2019 Post I wrote about the fight against abortion. My Reflection narrates how I became Pro-Life, and why I care about the Pro-Life updates and issues in the United States, even I’m a Filipino. You, too, must care. Whether you’re from the US or whichever part of the world, I encourage you to take a look back at this article to better understand what being ‘Pro-Life Catholic’ truly means.

If you are unable to physically receive Holy Communion, especially if Holy Mass in your area remains inaccessible or restricted, or if you are in isolation or under lockdown in the midst of this pandemic, make a solemn recitation of this Prayer for Spiritual Communion by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.

 

Greetings to all our dear Readers in every corner of the world—especially those in the Philippines (my Homeland), the United States, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Nigeria, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France and the United Arab Emirates, where majority of our loyal Readers are from! My 2020 Reflection is different given that social distancing and lockdowns continue across the globe. It shows that despite the ongoing situation, the Gospel for Christmas is even more relevant to us Catholics. This Post also includes what my busy ‘social life’ during this pandemic has made me realize personally and spiritually.
The Best Catholic

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