Monday, January 26
Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops
First Reading – 2 Timothy 1:1-8
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eu nice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of God.
(Alternate) First Reading – Titus 1:1-5
Paul, a servant a of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 10
℟ Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
℟ Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
℟ Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
℟ Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”
℟ Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Alleluia – 2 Timothy 1:10
℟ Alleluia!
Now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
℟ Alleluia!
Gospel – Mark 3:22-30
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Be-el’zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house.
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.
