Mass Readings for January 24, 2024

2 Samuel 7:4-17
Psalms 89:4-5,27-30
Mark 4:1-20

2 Samuel 7:4-17
(4) That same night, Yahweh’s word came to Nathan, saying, (5) “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in? (6) For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle. (7) In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’ (8) Now therefore tell my servant David this, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel. (9) I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. (10) I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first, (11) and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house. (12) When your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (14) I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; (15) but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. (16) Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’” (17) Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.

Psalms 89:4-5,27-30
(4) ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” Selah. (5) The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. (27) I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. (28) I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more. My covenant will stand firm with him. (29) I will also make his offspring endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his children forsake my law, and don’t walk in my ordinances;

Mark 4:1-20
(1) Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea. (2) He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching, (3) “Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow, (4) and as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it. (5) Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil. (6) When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. (7) Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. (8) Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.” (9) He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” (10) When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. (11) He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables, (12) that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’” (13) He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables? (14) The farmer sows the word. (15) The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them. (16) These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy. (17) They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble. (18) Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word, (19) and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (20) Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.”