DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

Thursday - Sts. Peter Baptist, OFM, Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs - Memorial (February 6)

Jesus gave them authority over sickness and unclean spirits

GOSPEL

Mark 6:7-13 (Alternate Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 or Matthew 16:24-27)

7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus gives them power to heal and cast out evil spirits, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed...

"He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification."

(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47)
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FIRST READING

1 kings 2:1-4, 10-12 (Alternate Reading: Galatians 2:19-20 or Romans 8:31-39)

1 When David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; 4 that the LORD may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, `If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.' 10 Then David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was firmly established.
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

1 Chronicles 29:10, 11-12 (Alternate PSALM: Psalm 126:1-6 or Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 16-17)

Response: Lord, you are exalted over all.

“Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

“LORD, you are exalted over all.
Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

“In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.