Catholic Church Readings for January 14, 2021: Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Catholic Church Readings for January 14, 2021: Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 308

Reading I

Heb 3:7-14

The Holy Spirit says:

    Oh, that today you would hear his voice,

        “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion

        in the day of testing in the desert,

    where your ancestors tested and tried me

        and saw my works for forty years.

    Because of this I was provoked with that generation

        and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart,

        and they do not know my ways.’

    As I swore in my wrath,

        ‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”

Take care, brothers and sisters,

that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart,

so as to forsake the living God.

Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,”

so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.

We have become partners of Christ

if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.

Responsorial Psalm

95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11

R.    (8)  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;

    let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

    and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R.    If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:

    “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

    as in the day of Massah in the desert,

Where your fathers tempted me;

    they tested me though they had seen my works.” 

R.    If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Forty years I was wearied of that generation;

    I said: “This people’s heart goes astray,

    they do not know my ways.”

Therefore I swore in my anger:

    “They shall never enter my rest.”

R.    If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Alleluia

See Mt 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,

“If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,

touched the leper, and said to him, 

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,

but go, show yourself to the priest

and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.

He spread the report abroad

so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

He remained outside in deserted places,

and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Church Announcement: Covid or Catholic?

Every single day that I attend Mass I hear the same, elaborate detailed message regarding Covid-19. Not one, but two in fact. Every single action of the laity is described in excruciating detail to ensure 100% compliance with all Covid regulation. Yet, little if any attention whatsoever is given to God-given Church law concerning the reception of the Blessed Sacrament. I have spoke about this previously. Yesterday, I was listening to a great talk by a holy priest and prior to his homily, he gave instruction, but not in service of Covid, but in service to God. It was quite refreshing.

As mentioned, each and every time I attend Mass, we are inundated with Covid regulation. The second you step inside the designated door, you are greeted by a team of Covid-tracers, people who take your full name, phone number, and ensure you answer correctly to Covid-related questions. You are then given a small piece of green tape which you must stick to your seat so that cleaners know which seats to decontaminate after Mass.

During the opening announcements, we are told the following each day:

Welcome.....

We pray that you are in good health.

We ask that all present respect the instructions given by our ushers and the guidelines in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including using hand sanitizers, maintaining a distance of 2 meters, and wearing face masks when entering, leaving, or moving within the church. We will not have a collection at this Mass, but there are collection boxes provided for you at the entrance and the exit of the church. Thank you for supporting our parish. At the time of communion, we will give you further instructions. At the end of Mass, we ask you to exit through the doors through which you entered the church.

Then right before communion, we get this message:

To ensure that the reception of Holy Communion takes place in a safe and respectful manner, we ask that you please following these instructions:

• Instead of individually replying "Amen" upon receiving the Host, there will be one general attestation of Amen before distribution begins.
• Please remain standing in your pew until invited forward by an usher.
• Ensure your facemask is correctly worn before coming forward and maintain a 2 meter social distance in the communion line.
• As you approach the front of the line, sanitize your hands before receiving communion, bow before the Host, in silence receive the host in your hand, step aside to consume the Host, return to your pew as directed by ushers.
• Those unable to receive Holy Communion in the hand, may come forward to receive a blessing.

Yes, the message is actually that long. During the multi-minute messages during a 30-minute Mass, there is never even the slightest mention of far more important qualifications to receive communion. I have talked about this before. Yesterday, however, I found a homily on Youtube in which the priest in fact does go through the important aspects of the reception of communion.

His message was perfectly balanced, speaking almost exclusively of the spiritual requirements for worthy reception of the Eucharist. The video is linked below, but in brief, he mentioned the following:

Holy Communion should only be received by practicing Catholics. He goes on to say this means people who attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and are living by the moral laws of the Church meaning you have no serious sin which has not been absolved by sacramental confession.

He then proceeds to explain why as he says "in the old rite", you do not say "Amen" when receiving communion. He says this practice is not really Catholic in that it can imply that our assent brings about the Real Presence, which is not a Catholic idea. He said the priest brings about transubstantiation, and our assent is not required. A very interesting point which I did not know.

He goes into detail about the mechanics of receiving the Eucharist such as placing one's tongue out far enough for the Host to be placed there correctly and to close one's eyes when receiving. He even goes on to speak about one's role in the traditional Mass with regards to saying the lines out loud, etc.

All of this advice is highly valuable and probably needed, at least from time to time, if not at every Mass. Yet we never hear these things.

Why are churches so gung-ho and careful about ensuring they following every tiny little detail of random Covid regulations and very lax about legitimate moral issues surrounding the worthy reception of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord? In fact, most of the announcements and specifications are made up by the parish itself. There are basic guidelines issued by the government, but in many cases such as the one above, the church voluntarily chose to have that many announcements to ensure compliance.

I want to say I am not criticizing anyone involved in carrying out tasks associated with Covid compliance. I am simply saying if we can have detailed Covid announcements, we can have spiritual reminders as well.

Catholic Church Readings for January 13, 2021: Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Catholic Church Readings for January 13, 2021: Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 307

Reading I

Heb 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and Flesh,

Jesus likewise shared in them,

that through death he might destroy the one

who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,

and free those who through fear of death

had been subject to slavery all their life.

Surely he did not help angels

but rather the descendants of Abraham;

therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way,    

that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God

to expiate the sins of the people.

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,

he is able to help those who are being tested.

Responsorial Psalm

105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;

    make known among the nations his deeds.

Sing to him, sing his praise,

    proclaim all his wondrous deeds.

R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Glory in his holy name;

    rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!

Look to the LORD in his strength;

    seek to serve him constantly.

R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,

    sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

He, the LORD, is our God;

    throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

He remembers forever his covenant

    which he made binding for a thousand generations-- 

Which he entered into with Abraham

    and by his oath to Isaac. 

R.    (8a)  The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia

Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.

I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue

Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.

They immediately told him about her.

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.

Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,

they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were sick with various diseases,

and he drove out many demons,

not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, 

he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

Simon and those who were with him pursued him

and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages

that I may preach there also.

For this purpose have I come.”

So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons 

throughout the whole of Galilee.

Catholic Church Readings for January 12, 2021: Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Catholic Church Readings for January 12, 2021: Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 306

Reading I

Heb 2:5-12

It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come,

of which we are speaking.

Instead, someone has testified somewhere:

    What is man that you are mindful of him,

        or the son of man that you care for him?

    You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

        you crowned him with glory and honor,

        subjecting all things under his feet.

In “subjecting” all things to him,

he left nothing not “subject to him.”

Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” 

but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor”

because he suffered death,

he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,”

that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that he,

for whom and through whom all things exist,

in bringing many children to glory,

should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.

He who consecrates

and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.

Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers” saying: 

    I will proclaim your name to my brethren,

    in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

Responsorial Psalm

8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9

R.    (see 7) You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

O LORD, our Lord,

    how glorious is your name over all the earth!

What is man that you should be mindful of him,

    or the son of man that you should care for him?

R.    You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

You have made him little less than the angels,

    and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him rule over the works of your hands,

    putting all things under his feet.

R.    You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

All sheep and oxen,

    yes, and the beasts of the field,

The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,

    and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

R.    You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

Alleluia

See 1 Thes 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,

but as it truly is, the word of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, 

and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching,

for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” 

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet!  Come out of him!”

The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another,

“What is this?

A new teaching with authority.

He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Back to plain old "Ordinary" time....or are we?

There is some confusion as to what the term ordinary time means in the Catholic Church. I think I always assumed, and many still do, that it means nothing "extraordinary" is happening. But that's not really accurate. In fact, when the Church calls the period of time "Ordinary", it simply refers to ordinal numerals.

According to Wikipedia:

In linguistics, ordinal numerals or ordinal number words are words representing position or rank in a sequential order; the order may be of size, importance, chronology, and so on (e.g., "third", "tertiary"). They differ from cardinal numerals, which represent quantity (e.g., "three") and other types of numerals.

The other type of numbers are called cardinal numerals which would be used for things like quantities and amounts. So it makes sense that the weeks are numbered in the Church this way.

Today, Monday, January 11, 2021, is called the first day of Ordinary Time. We have begun a new season. Something I cannot seem to explain is that although today is the first day of ordinary time according to the calendar, it also says that this coming Sunday, on January 17, is the "second Sunday of Ordinary Time". Very confusing. If today is the first day of Ordinary time, that would mean yesterday was presumably not included.

In fact, yesterday is the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. According to the calendar and the archbishop this morning, today is the first day of the liturgical new year, and therefore yesterday would not be included. I am very confused. If anyone knows what is going on, please let me know.

The basic idea behind ordinary time is that there are two major periods in the Christian calendar: Christmas and Easter. We prepare for these two major periods with Advent and Lent, respectively. Ordinary time is basically the period of time outside of these. The longest period of continual Ordinary Time is between the end of Eastertide and the beginning of Advent which in 2021 will be approximately 188 days, depending on how it's supposed to be calculated. In other words, more than half the year.

It's important to note that all Masses are equally important and extraordinary in that sense since the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Savior comes to us at those times. Also, even during ordinary time, there are major solemnities, feasts, etc. 

Catholic Church Readings for January 11, 2021: Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Catholic Church Readings for January 11, 2021: Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 305

Reading I

Heb 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways 

to our ancestors through the prophets; 

in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,     

whom he made heir of all things

and through whom he created the universe,

    who is the refulgence of his glory, 

        the very imprint of his being,

    and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

    When he had accomplished purification from sins,

    he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

    as far superior to the angels

    as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:

    You are my Son; this day I have begotten you?

Or again:

    I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?

And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:

    Let all the angels of God worship him.

Responsorial Psalm

97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9

R.    (see 7c) Let all his angels worship him.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

    let the many isles be glad.

    Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. 

R.    Let all his angels worship him.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

    and all peoples see his glory.

Let all his angels worship him.

R.    Let all his angels worship him.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,

    exalted far above all gods.

R.    Let all his angels worship him.

Alleluia

Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand;

repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:

“This is the time of fulfillment.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;

they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them,

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Then they left their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther

and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They too were in a boat mending their nets.

Then he called them.

So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him.

Catholic Church Readings for January 10, 2021: The Baptism of Our Lord

Catholic Church Readings for January 10, 2021: The Baptism of Our Lord

The Baptism of the Lord

Lectionary: 21

Reading I

Is 42:1-4, 6-7

Thus says the LORD:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one with whom I am pleased,

upon whom I have put my spirit;

he shall bring forth justice to the nations,

not crying out, not shouting,

not making his voice heard in the street.

a bruised reed he shall not break,

and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,

until he establishes justice on the earth;

the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,

I have grasped you by the hand;

I formed you, and set you

as a covenant of the people,

a light for the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,

to bring out prisoners from confinement,

and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

OR:

Is 55:1-11

Thus says the LORD:

All you who are thirsty,

come to the water!

You who have no money,

come, receive grain and eat;

come, without paying and without cost,

drink wine and milk!

Why spend your money for what is not bread,

your wages for what fails to satisfy?

Heed me, and you shall eat well,

you shall delight in rich fare.

Come to me heedfully,

listen, that you may have life.

I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,

the benefits assured to David.

As I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander of nations,

so shall you summon a nation you knew not,

and nations that knew you not shall run to you,

because of the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.

Seek the LORD while he may be found,

call him while he is near.

Let the scoundrel forsake his way,

and the wicked man his thoughts;

let him turn to the LORD for mercy;

to our God, who is generous in forgiving.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

As high as the heavens are above the earth 

so high are my ways above your ways

and my thoughts above your thoughts.

For just as from the heavens

the rain and snow come down

and do not return there

till they have watered the earth,

making it fertile and fruitful,

giving seed to the one who sows

and bread to the one who eats,

so shall my word be

that goes forth from my mouth;

my word shall not return to me void,

but shall do my will,

achieving the end for which I sent it.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

R. (11b)  The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Give to the LORD, you sons of God,

    give to the LORD glory and praise,

Give to the LORD the glory due his name;

    adore the LORD in holy attire.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,

    the LORD, over vast waters.

The voice of the LORD is mighty;

    the voice of the LORD is majestic. 

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The God of glory thunders,

    and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The LORD is enthroned above the flood;

    the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

OR:

Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

R. (3)  You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;

    I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

    and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

    at the fountain of salvation.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

    among the nations make known his deeds,

      proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

    let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

    for great in your midst

    is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Reading II

Acts 10:34-38

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered

in the house of Cornelius, saying: 

“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.

Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly

is acceptable to him.

You know the word that he sent to the Israelites 

as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, 

what has happened all over Judea, 

beginning in Galilee after the baptism

that John preached, 

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and power.

He went about doing good 

and healing all those oppressed by the devil, 

for God was with him.”

OR:

1 Jn 5:1-9

Beloved:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,

that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome,

for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.

And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

Who indeed is the victor over the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,

not by water alone, but by water and blood.

The Spirit is the one who testifies,

and the Spirit is truth.

So there are three that testify,

the Spirit, the water, and the blood,

and the three are of one accord.

If we accept human testimony,

the testimony of God is surely greater.

Now the testimony of God is this,

that he has testified on behalf of his Son.

Alleluia

Cf. Jn 1:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

John saw Jesus approaching him, and said:

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 1:7-11

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: 

“One mightier than I is coming after me.

I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water; 

he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee 

and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open 

and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, 

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Catholic Church Readings for January 9, 2021: Saturday after Epiphany

Catholic Church Readings for January 9, 2021: Saturday after Epiphany

Saturday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 217

Reading I

1 Jn 5:14-21

Beloved:

We have this confidence in him

that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 

And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,

we know that what we have asked him for is ours. 

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,

he should pray to God and he will give him life. 

This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. 

There is such a thing as deadly sin,

about which I do not say that you should pray. 

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;

but the one begotten by God he protects,

and the Evil One cannot touch him. 

We know that we belong to God,

and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One. 

We also know that the Son of God has come

and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. 

And we are in the one who is true,

in his Son Jesus Christ. 

He is the true God and eternal life. 

Children, be on your guard against idols.

Responsorial Psalm

149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

R.    (see 4a)  The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song

    of praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in their maker,

    let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R.    (see 4a)  The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,

    let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD loves his people,

    and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R.    (see 4a)  The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Let the faithful exult in glory;

    let them sing for joy upon their couches;

Let the high praises of God be in their throats.

    This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R.    (see 4a)  The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia

Mt 4:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jn 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea,

where he spent some time with them baptizing. 

John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,

because there was an abundance of water there,

and people came to be baptized,

for John had not yet been imprisoned. 

Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew

about ceremonial washings. 

So they came to John and said to him,

“Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,

to whom you testified,

here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”

John answered and said,

“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 

You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,

but that I was sent before him. 

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;

the best man, who stands and listens for him,

rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. 

So this joy of mine has been made complete. 

He must increase; I must decrease.”

Catholic Church Readings for January 8, 2021: Friday after Epiphany

Catholic Church Readings for January 8, 2021: Friday after Epiphany

Friday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 216

Reading I

1 Jn 5:5-13

Beloved:

Who indeed is the victor over the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,

not by water alone, but by water and Blood. 

The Spirit is the one who testifies,

and the Spirit is truth. 

So there are three who testify,

the Spirit, the water, and the Blood, 

and the three are of one accord. 

If we accept human testimony,

the testimony of God is surely greater. 

Now the testimony of God is this,

that he has testified on behalf of his Son. 

Whoever believes in the Son of God

has this testimony within himself.

Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar

by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. 

And this is the testimony:

God gave us eternal life,

and this life is in his Son. 

Whoever possesses the Son has life;

whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you so that you may know

that you have eternal life,

you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm

147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

R.    (12a)  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;

    praise your God, O Zion.

For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;

    he has blessed your children within you.

R.    Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

He has granted peace in your borders;

    with the best of wheat he fills you.

He sends forth his command to the earth;

    swiftly runs his word!

R.    Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,

    his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.

He has not done thus for any other nation;

    his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.

R.    Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia

See Mt 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;

and when he saw Jesus,

he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” 

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,

“I do will it.  Be made clean.” 

And the leprosy left him immediately. 

Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing

what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 

The report about him spread all the more,

and great crowds assembled to listen to him

and to be cured of their ailments,

but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

4 People Died in United States Capitol Protests + Catholic Perspective on Armed Resistance

I am keeping track of this story as it is still developing. 4 people have died in the 2021 United States Capitol Protests. Reports of this can be seen here.

As of right now, details are rather unclear. One of the deaths which was known yesterday was that of Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt. She was shot by law enforcement, although the exact details are not yet publicized. There was some question as to exactly where she was shot.

Ashli Babbitt, a California resident, served 4 tours of duty over a 14 year period and was born in 1985 making her around 35 years of age. It seems she was active on Twitter under the username CommonAshSense. She made some tweets concerning the protest.

Three other people associated with the protest have passed away, yet the cause of their deaths are unclear. All I could find were references to them dying following "medical emergencies". This is very broad, and wouldn't any death be the result of a medical emergency?

So what are the relevant points in the Catholic Faith we must consider when looking at this situation? Is an armed insurrection ever justifiable? I'm not saying that is what is happening in this case. But are there ever cases where large groups of people can forcibly take control of a government? In fact, this is addressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church under the topic of armed resistance.

Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met:

1. there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights;
2. all other means of redress have been exhausted;
3. such resistance will not provoke worse disorders;
4. there is well-founded hope of success; and
5. it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.

Does the current situation meet the criteria above? I would say, at the very least, it would be an untenable position to say that the current American situation would meet the criteria allowing for armed resistance to a government.

Is there certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights? I would say probably not. Yes, there are many grave injustices, such as abortion, occurring in the country. The problem is I cannot see that changing, especially by violent actions such as the ones being witnessed.

Therefore, criterion 4 is not met either of a well-founded hope of success. Criterion 3 is that such resistance will not provoke worse disorders. I cannot say that criterion would be met either as violent protests will certainly not improve the current situation and will probably make it worse.

Have all other means of redress been exhausted? I believe at this point, since the other criteria are not met, this is a moot point. But there are probably better, more effective means, that have not yet been exhausted.

Finally, #5, is it impossible to reasonably foresee any better solution? Since violent protests will probably achieve little if anything, obviously there are better solutions.

Therefore, I do not think violence is legitimate in this case. Having said that, I have not seen significant evidence of widespread violence from Trump supporters at this point. You could say that the act of breaking into the US Capitol building is itself an act of violence, but breaking into a building isn't the same as harming someone bodily. It's much less significant.

A young woman has been killed, but we do not know the circumstances in detail. We know she was probably shot by some law enforcement agency. Why was she shot? Was she threatening, assaulting, or committing battery against people? I am not sure. Perhaps her death was a tragic mistake.

As for the other three deaths, we do not have sufficient information to categorize what happened.

My point is, we cannot tell at this point how violent or non-violent the group of protesters is overall. Yes, they broke in, but are they, on a significant scale, using violence against innocent people? Are they shooting firearms at law enforcement officers? I do not see evidence of these things.

First and foremost we must pray for everyone involved in this situation. We must pray that people remain calm and things do not escalate further. We must pray that injustices are resolved in civilized ways. Let's try to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I think we are living in a time where people are more polarized than ever. Many people are under lockdown and on social media things can often appear far more extreme which leads to further polarization.

I will keep you posted on any new developments and how they may apply to Catholic teaching.

First Ever Nativity Scene! Dates from the 1200s. Check it out.

There is a nativity scene made of marble that was commissioned by Pope Nicholas IV in 1292. Prior to this, St. Francis introduced the idea of people re-enacting the nativity, but this is the first time it was made in the form of a sculpture. It has seen many great saints throughout the centuries and is located at St. Mary Major, one of the 4 major basilicas in Catholicism.

I will copy and paste the article from Catholic News Agency Below the Images.

Article from Catholic News Agency:

First known nativity scene figurines can now be seen in St. Mary Major Basilica

By Courtney Mares

Rome Newsroom, Dec 23, 2020 / 11:00 am MT (CNA).- The first known nativity scene figurines are on display this Christmas in one of Rome’s oldest basilicas.

The underground Chapel of the Nativity in the Basilica of St. Mary Major -- known to Italians as Santa Maria Maggiore -- once contained at least six marble nativity statues sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio in the late 13th century.

From Dec. 22, the public will be able to view these nativity figurines in the Marian basilica’s Sistine chapel, located to the right of the main altar.

The figurines were commissioned in 1292 by Pope Nicholas IV, the first Franciscan pope, who was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, creator of the first living nativity in Greccio, Italy, in 1223.

Sante Guido, an art historian and professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, told EWTN that five of the marble statues in the nativity scene today are completely original to the 13th century.

This means that this nativity scene was present when St. Cajetan experienced an apparition of the Child Jesus in the Chapel of the Nativity on Christmas night in 1517 and when St. Ignatius of Loyola chose to offer his first Mass in this chapel in 1538.

It is unclear how many figures in total made up the nativity scene commissioned by Nicholas IV, but the marble figures that exist today of St. Joseph, the three Magi, and a single work depicting both a cow and a donkey are part of the original set, according to Guido.

The statue of the Virgin Mary enthroned with the baby Jesus underwent significant restoration in the late 16th century, he explained.

The Italian art historian and restorer noted that this is not the first depiction of Christ’s birth in Christian history, but the first nativity scene in the form as it is known today.

“In the history of Christianity there are many depictions of the nativity of Christ, of course, even on the early Christian sarcophagi, but also in the Romanesque cathedrals and in the Gothic cathedrals there are depictions of an episode in the life of Christ: his birth,” he said.

“Here instead we have the representation of the nativity, according to the spirit of St. Francis, so this nativity is the first nativity scene in history. It is not only a representation of the nativity, but it is a nativity scene.”

The Basilica of St. Mary Major’s connection to Christ’s birth goes back for centuries before this nativity scene was commissioned. The basilica has a precious relic of pieces of Christ’s crib sent from Bethlehem by St. Sophronius, then the patriarch of Jerusalem, to Pope Theodore I in the seventh century.

For this reason, the basilica was once called St. Mary of the Manger and was also referred to as “the Bethlehem of the West.”

This relic of the manger was historically kept in the crypt Chapel of the Nativity, which was first created in the seventh century but has been repeatedly reconstructed over the centuries.

Pope Sixtus V restored the crypt Chapel of the Nativity to the form seen today between 1585 and 1590 as he built the basilica’s Sistine chapel.

In St. Mary Major’s Sistine chapel, where the nativity scene is located, one can also see the first tabernacle to be made according to the precepts of the Council of Trent and an altar dedicated to St. Jerome.

Tradition holds that St. Jerome’s relics were brought from Bethlehem to Rome shortly after the relic of the manger and are now located either in the main altar or this side chapel in the Basilica of St. Mary Major where the first nativity is currently displayed.

During the Advent and Christmas season this year, a relic of the manger has been brought out for veneration in the basilica’s Borghese chapel, to the left of the main altar. This relic is usually found in the niche below the main altar. It was moved by Pope Pius IX from the Chapel of the Nativity to its current location under the altar in the 19th century.

Pope Francis visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major during Advent this year on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and offered Mass in the crypt Chapel of the Nativity.

Last year Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to the Italian town of Greccio during Advent to sign an apostolic letter on the meaning and importance of nativity scenes in the location where St. Francis of Assisi created the first nativity scene in 1223.

The letter recalled the story behind St. Francis’ first living nativity scene, or crèche. The saint asked a friend 15 days before Christmas to help him prepare “to bring to life” the memory of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.

“When St. Francis arrived, he found a manger full of hay, an ox and a donkey. All those present experienced a new and indescribable joy in the presence of the Christmas scene. The priest then solemnly celebrated the Eucharist over the manger, showing the bond between the Incarnation of the Son of God and the Eucharist.”

“At Greccio there were no statues; the nativity scene was enacted and experienced by all who were present.”

Thomas of Celano, the first biographer of St. Francis, wrote that someone present at the Mass had a vision of the baby Jesus himself lying in the manger.

Pope Francis wrote: “In a particular way, from the time of its Franciscan origins, the nativity scene has invited us to ‘feel’ and ‘touch’ the poverty that God’s Son took upon himself in the Incarnation. Implicitly, it summons us to follow him along the path of humility, poverty and self-denial that leads from the manger of Bethlehem to the cross.”

Found this on Facebook, very moving.

I just saw this on Facebook. Very moving:

Text of Post:

Today, I operated on a little girl. She needed O-blood. We didn't have any, but her twin brother has O-blood. I explained to him that it was a matter of life and death. He sat quietly for a moment, and then said goodbye to his parents. I didn't think anything of it until after we took his blood and he asked, "So when will I die?" He thought he was giving his life for hers. Thankfully, they'll both be fine.