Thursday, January 30, 2014. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

In India: Peace Day.

First Reading : 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29; Second Reading : Psalms 131[132]:1-5, 11-14; Gospel : Mark 4:21-25. [Please share today's Gospel.] 

First Reading : 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29

David’s Prayer

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God!

And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, OLord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, OLord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Second Reading : Psalms 132:1-5, 11-14

The Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion

A Song of Ascents.

O Lord, remember in David’s favor

all the hardships he endured;

how he swore to the Lord

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

“I will not enter my house

or get into my bed;

I will not give sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

until I find a place for the Lord,

a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

The Lord swore to David a sure oath

from which he will not turn back:

“One of the sons of your body

I will set on your throne.

If your sons keep my covenant

and my decrees that I shall teach them,

their sons also, forevermore,

shall sit on your throne.”

For the Lord has chosen Zion;

he has desired it for his habitation:

“This is my resting place forever;

here I will reside, for I have desired it. 


Gospel : Mark 4:21-25

A Lamp under a Bushel Basket

He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

Focus : "Is a lamp brought in to be put…. under the bed?" (Mark 4:21) 

Fruit : Whenever I take a decision, whatever the provocation, should I not ask myself: is this the kind of response that Jesus would advocate?