Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20
During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 (R.8a and 9a)
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood. R.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.” R.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!” R.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know. R.
Gospel – Mk 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
Featured Saints
St. Melchiades (Miltiades), Pope (†314). He received the Lateran Palace from Emperor Constantine and established it as the papal residence. He fought against Donatism and strove to establish concord.
St. Gregory of Nyssa, bishop (†a. 400). Brother of St. Basil the Great and St. Macrina. Under the influence of St. Gregory Nazianzen, he embraced divine service and was appointed as Bishop of Nyssa, in present-day Turkey.
St. John of Jerusalem, bishop (†417). At a time of controversy concerning true doctrine, in the city of Jerusalem, he laboured zealously for the Catholic Faith and for peace in the Church.
St. Peter Orseolo, monk (†c.987/988). After serving as Doge of Venice, he retired to a hermitage near the Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, France.
St. Paul of Thebes, hermit (†fourth century). He took refuge in a desert to flee the edict of Decius, which ordered the apostasy of every Catholic; he is the first hermit.
Blessed Gregory X, Pope (†1276). Worked tirelessly to restore Church unity and settle disputes between Christian princes and convoked the 2nd council of Lyon to recuperate the Holy Land.
Blessed Gonzalo de Amarante, priest (†c. 1259). Priest from Braga, Portugal, who after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, became a Dominican and finally withdrew to a hermitage.
Blessed Anna of the Angels Monteagudo, virgin (†1686). Dominican religious born in Peru; she had the gifts of prophecy and counsel.
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