Called to Be Holy
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.’” John 1:29
With this Sunday we begin Ordinary Time. The readings tell us about God’s relationship with Israel and John the Baptist’s relationship with Jesus. Israel’s relationship with God is so close, so intimate, that it is through Israel that God’s “salvation [will] reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). But we know from John the Baptist that for Israel
to accomplish God’s will, it must also recognize that Jesus is the Son of God. During these weeks we also get to know Jesus. We begin to understand more deeply our relationship to Jesus and what that relationship means for us, who are “called to be holy” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Reading of the Week
Monday: 1 Sm 15:16-23; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mk 2:18-22
Tuesday: 1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89:20-22, 27-28; Mk 2:23-28
Wednesday: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Ps 144:1b, 2,9 10; Mk 3:1-6, or any of a number of readings for the Day of Prayer
Thursday: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Ps 56:2-3, 9-13; Mk 3:7-12
Friday: 1 Sm 24:3-21; Ps 57:2-4, 6, 11; Mk 3:13-19
Saturday: Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Ps 117:1bc, 2; Mk 16:15-18
Sunday: Is 8:23 — 9:3; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23 [12-17]
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time; Julian Calendar Theophany (Epiphany)
Monday: St. Fabian; St. Sebastian; Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday: St. Agnes
Wednesday: Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
Thursday: St. Vincent; St. Marianne Cope
Friday: St. Francis de Sales
Saturday: The Conversion of St. Paul; Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ends; Chinese New Year 4718