Mass Readings for January 26, 2024

2 Timothy 1:1-8
Psalms 96:1-3,7-8,10
Mark 4:26-34

2 Timothy 1:1-8
(1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, (2) to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (3) I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day (4) longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; (5) having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you; which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also. (6) For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. (8) Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,

Psalms 96:1-3,7-8,10
(1) Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. (2) Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! (3) Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. (7) Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. (8) Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts. (10) Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.

Mark 4:26-34
(26) He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, (27) and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how. (28) For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. (29) But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (30) He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? (31) It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, (32) yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.” (33) With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. (34) Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.