Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: 4 January 2021 - The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

Readings at Mass for Monday 4 January 2021

Monday after Epiphany
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: Joyful Mystery
Preface of Christmas

FIRST READING

“Test the spirits to see whether they are of God. ”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 3:22-4:6)

Beloved: We receive from God whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already. Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 2:7-8. 10- 11 (R. 8a)

R/. I will give you the nations as your inheritance.

I will announce the decree of the Lord
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations as your inheritance,
and the ends of the earth as your possession.” R.

“So now, O kings, understand;
take warning, rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear;
exult with trembling, pay him your homage.” R.

ALLELUIA Matthew 4:23

Alleluia. Alleluia. Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The kingdom of heaven is at hand. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 4:12- 17.23-25)

At that time: When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali towards the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Jesus is the light of the world. His mission in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali indicates the fulfilment of a prophecy of restoration made in Isaiah 9:1-2. The place is known as the Galilee of the Gentiles. Jesus took the light to the heathens in their own land. He does not just wait for us to come to him; he comes to us because he loves us and wants to save us. He stands now at the door of your life waiting to dispel whatever darkness, sin, sickness, poverty, restlessness – that threatens you, if only you will let him in.

Personal Devotional: Day 3

21 Day Novena for Personal and Family Restoration in the New Year 2021 (2nd January - 23rd January 2021)

Fasting Guideline: (i) Fast on the first day of the prayers, (ii) Every Fridays throughout the period and (iii) The last day of the prayers from 6am – 6pm (If you have the grace to fast from 6am-12noon or 6am-6pm in the 21days of the prayers you’re free to do so).
Note: The sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers are please advised to exercise caution in the fast.

1. Opening Prayer: The name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen.



2. Prayer point:
- Ask God for the healing of your family foundation, and the healing of your bloodline.
- Ask him to heal your destiny, to remove anything from the past affecting your life negatively.



3. Reflection: Judges 6:25-28, Psalm 11, 123, and 125



4. Healing Prayers of your Family Lineage
Heavenly Father, I come before you as your child, in great need of your help. I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglect and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg your forgiveness. I also ask you to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures may have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, negative behavior patterns and a predisposition toward sin. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders.

With your help I sincerely forgive everyone, living or dead members of my family lineage, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of your divine Son Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I ask you Father, to deliver me and my entire family lineage from the influence of evil.

Free all members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every contaminating form of bondage. By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father, and by the shed blood of your precious Son Jesus, I beg you to extend your blessing to me and all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative effects in all future generations.

I symbolically place the Cross of Christ over the head of every person in my family lineage and I ask you to let the cleansing Blood of Jesus purify every aspect of my family. Send protective angels to encamp around us and administer to us your divine healing power, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special power to our family members’ guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very moment, and let it continue as long as your sovereignty permits.

Replace all bondage in our family lineage with a bonding of holy family love. May there be an ever-deeper bonding with you, Heavenly Father, through the power of your Holy Spirit, to your Son, Jesus Christ. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its tender, warm, loving presence so that our family may recognize and manifest that love in all our relationships; in Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.




5. Prayer of Confirmation and trust in God

Lord, God Almighty, I thank you for protecting me from every form of evil and bringing me the gift of your divine health.
I thank you for breaking the chains of oppression and delivering me from every form of sin, sickness, disease and lie of the enemy.
I thank you for the powerful name of Jesus to which every knee shall bow.
Thank you for giving me your authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall harm me.
Thank you for your full armor, your name, your most precious Blood and your Holy Spirit.
No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Thank you heavenly father for all your protection and provisions, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forevermore. Amen



6. Recite the Rosary (Joyful Mysteries): Offer this mystery for your Personal Intention, for a successful 2021.



7. Concluding Prayers:

Dear Lord, I surrender to your mercy; Lord I surrender to your loving kindness; merciful God, I surrender to your saving grace.
(Repeat as severally as you can)
“I surrender my life and my destiny to you oh Lord, wash it with the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.”

In the power and authority that you have given me, I say to all addictions, perversions,
chemical dependencies, hopelessness, worry, doubt, fear, despair and all symptoms
of any such illness, that you must submit to the name of Jesus.

I cast down every argument and proud obstacle that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the name of the father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.