Dear Friends,
It’s amazing how our personal experience changes our perspective on the same situation.
For some, the blanket of snow on Tuesday was a welcome sight, reminding them of fond winter memories. But for those who experience homelessness or have mobility issues, piles of snow and ice pose a formidable and sometimes dangerous threat to their well-being. What brought joy to one brought despair to another.
We can feel tempted to be content with out own view of the world particularly when we are trapped in our own digital and physical bubbles. This is one reason it is so important to gather as church, whether in person or online. Sharing the common experience of mass redirects our gaze and opens our eyes to the needs and gifts of others.
We will hold Mass tomorrow, Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 9:00am. A reservation is required to attend. Please make a reservation by visiting www.standrew.org/mass-reservations
Opening Prayer
Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN
The Readings
Reading I Dt 18:15-20
Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”
Reading II 1 Cor 7:32-35
Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.
Gospel Mk 1:21-28
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
The Homily
Please click on the video link below to watch the homily for this week.
The Prayers of the Faithful
For the Church, that by what we say and what we do we may teach what we believe and witness how it changes our lives, so that we may bear witness to the saving power of God. We pray to the Lord.
That those in authority may work toward bringing justice to all who are oppressed and peace to all who live in fear. We pray to the Lord.
For teachers, administrators, and staff in Catholic schools, that they may see each of their students as a child of God and be blessed in their efforts to form each one into a person who will live out the values of our shared faith. We pray to the Lord.
That our hearts may be made fertile so that when we hear God’s word it may germinate and bear fruit. We pray to the Lord.
For all who have been affected by COVID19, may God’s healing presence be comfort to them and bring health and well-being. We pray to the Lord.
For the departed, who remain with us in our prayers and our memories, and for the promise of a joyful reunion, and especially for: +Michael Beatty, +Dan Belicena, +Joseph Bengtson and+ Colleen O’Malley. We pray to the Lord
Sunday Offertory
Spiritual Communion
In many places in the world receiving Holy Communion is not possible. Catholics in these areas are encouraged to make “Spiritual Communion.” St.Teresa of Jesus wrote about this practice:
“When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you”
Closing Prayer
Nourished by your divine gifts, we pray, O Lord, that through this help to eternal salvation, true faith may ever increase. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Announcements
Live Stream Mass
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