Daily Mass Readings For Thursday, January 9, 2025
Thursday after Epiphany
Reading I:
1 John 4:19–5:4
Alleluia:
Luke 4:18
Gospel:
Luke 4:14-22
Liturgical vestments: White
Thursday, January 9, 2025: Readings & Responsorial Psalm & Gospel
Each day, the Mass readings invite us into a deeper encounter with God. Through Scripture, we hear His voice speaking to our hearts, guiding us, comforting us, and calling us to a life of holiness. The Word of God is not just a story from the past; it is alive, relevant, and transformative.
Every reading is an opportunity for grace. Some days, the words challenge us to grow; other days, they console us in our struggles. But always, they nourish our souls, strengthening our faith and drawing us closer to Christ.
Let us open our hearts to the Word of God daily. May we not just hear it but live it, allowing it to shape our actions and deepen our love for Him. Lord, speak to us today, and help us to follow You more faithfully. Amen.
Reading I
1 John 4:19–5:4
Beloved, we love God because
he first loved us.
If anyone says, “I love God,”
but hates his brother, he is a liar;
for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen.
This is the commandment we have from him:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
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.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
Reflection
“Our Savior having in very truth become Man, the salvation of the whole man was brought about. But truly our salvation is not merely apparent, nor does it extend to the body only, but the whole man has truly obtained salvation in the Word Himself.” (Saint Athanasius)
“There are many Christians with a watered down hope. To be Christian victors we must believe by confessing the faith, and also keeping watch over our faith, and trusting in God, in the Lord. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith.” (Francis)
“We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel, (…) is the eternal Son of God made man. He ‘came from God’ (Jn 13:3), ‘descended from heaven’ (Jn 3:13; 6:33) and ‘came in the flesh’ (1 Jn 4:2) (…). ‘From his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace’ (Jn 1:14,16).” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 423)
Brothers and sisters, this Gospel passage tells us that Jesus is not a “ghost”, but a living Person; that when Jesus draws near to us he fills us with joy, to the point of disbelief, and he leaves us bewildered, with that astonishment that only God’s presence gives, because Jesus is a living Person. Being Christian is not first of all a doctrine or a moral ideal; it is a living relationship with him, with the Risen Lord: we look at him, we touch him, we are nourished by him and, transformed by his Love, we look at, touch and nourish others as brothers and sisters. May the Virgin Mary help us to live this experience of grace. (Angelus, 18 April 2021)
Saint of the Day
Born of a noble family, Antonio studied in Bologna to become a priest. Returning to his home, he engaged in various pastoral ministries, ultimately being named Bishop of Ancona in 1463. He was a prudent pastor, generous to the poor and severe towards himself. He was beatified in 1765.
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