Mass Readings for January 22, 2024

2 Samuel 5:1-7,10
Psalms 89:20-22,25-26
Mark 3:22-30

2 Samuel 5:1-7,10
(1) Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. (2) In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’” (3) So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel. (4) David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (5) In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. (6) The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here”; thinking, “David can’t come in here.” (7) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city. (10) David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.

Psalms 89:20-22,25-26
(20) I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, (21) with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. (22) No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. (25) I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. (26) He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’

Mark 3:22-30
(22) The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.” (23) He summoned them, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? (24) If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (25) If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (26) If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end. (27) But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house. (28) Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; (29) but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” (30) —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”