Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: 14 February 2021
Mass Readings for Sunday 14 February 2020
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
VESTMENT: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
SS CYRIL, MONK & METHODIUS, B. Memorial
Death Anniversary of Bishop Peter Adoboh of Katsina Ala – 14/02/2020
Theme of the Sunday: Jesus and the “Lepers.” Jesus came to proclaim liberation to the poor and the outcasts. One of his first miracles was to cleanse a leper, which brought the leper back into the life of the community. Jesus signals that nobody should be kept out, or excluded from the new family that he had begun. This is the theme of the Gospel. The first reading shows us how the Jews regarded lepers. The second reading can be connected to this theme. It tells Christians not to look out only for their own interests, but to seek the good of all.
Entrance Ant.
Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
FIRST READING
“The leper shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp.”
A reading from the Book of Leviticus (Leviticus 13: 1-2.44-46)
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. “He is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head. The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, ‘Unclean, unclean. ’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 32: 1-2.5. 11 (R. 7)
R/. You are a hiding place for me,
you surround me with cries of deliverance.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is remitted.
Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no guile. R.
To you I have acknowledged my sin;
my guilt I did not hide.
I said, “I will confess my transgression to the Lord.”
And you have forgiven the guilt of my sin. R.
Rejoice in the Lord, exult you just!
Ring out your joy, all you upright of heart! R.
SECOND READING
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 10:31-11: 1)
Brethren: Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offence to Jews or to Greeks or to the Church of God, just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 7:16
Alleluia. A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“The leprosy left him, and he was made clean. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:40-45)
At that time: A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer of the Faithful
Be cured!
PRIEST: God our Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to cleanse the world of the leprosy of sin. Let us ask the Lord to renew his cleansing power in the world.
READER:
For all priests in their ministry of reconciliation, (pause) may they be guided by the Holy Spirit with his wisdom, so that they may help their penitents to live as children of God. (pause) Lord, hear us; and cleanse us from our sins we pray Oh Lord.
For those in government departments of health, (pause) may they have special care for the young, the old, the infirm, and those suffering from a terminal disease. (pause) Lord, hear us; and cleanse us from our sins we pray Oh Lord.
For those who have not been to the Sacraments for a long time, (pause) may they be given the grace to call on the name of Jesus, and may they be cleansed from their sins, (pause) Lord, hear us; and cleanse us from our sins we pray Oh Lord.
For all the lepers in our world, (pause) may those who look after them be blessed, and may we, by our prayers and financial help, support them in their great work. (pause) Lord, hear us; and cleanse us from our sins we pray Oh Lord. We pray for our own petitions, especially for healing.
PRIEST: Father, we pray that as your Son was sorry for the lepers and healed them, may we also be healed from our sins. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today’s Reflection
Throughout history leprosy was looked at with horror. Lepers were forbidden to enter cities; they had to live on the outskirts and when they come for food left behind they had to make some noise and shout “unclean” so that nobody would run into them. People saw leprosy as a punishment from God. But Jesus saw beyond outward appearance. He told His disciples He had come to heal the sick and cleanse leapers. In the sacrament of Penance Christ brings us inner healing by touching us with grace. He brings His spiritual medicine to scars of the soul; wounds of sin; bruises of the past. That is why we need to go to confession. Jesus gave us the power of His sacraments, especially confession, to bring His healing touch to places where no doctor can operate; no therapist can probe; no medication can sooth; no friend can reach.
Personal Devotional
“When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem…. and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:6
– Pray that the glory of the Lord should overshadow you and all your household.
– Pray that all your actions and deeds should be influenced by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
Let Us Pray
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.
Memory verse: John 1:1
