Whatever is secreted is meant to be revealed

January 28, 2016

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Saint of the Day: Memorial Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church (1274)

Reading 1

2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29

18After Nathan had spoken to King David, the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, 

that you have brought me to this point? 

19Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD![1]

24“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, LORD, have become their God. 25And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised.

26Your name will be forever great, when men say, ‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’ and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.

27It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant,

‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.

28And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. 29Do, then, bless the house of your servant

that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord GOD, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.”

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14

R. (Luke 1;32b) The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

1LORD, remember David and all his anxious care; 2How he swore an oath to the LORD, vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

3“I will not enter the house where I live, nor lie on the couch where I sleep; 4I will give my eyes no sleep, my eyelids no rest, 5Till I find a home for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

11The LORD swore an oath to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

12“If your sons keep my covenant, and the decrees which I shall teach them, Their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

13For the LORD has chosen Zion, he prefers her for his dwelling: 14“Zion is my resting place forever; in her I will dwell, for I prefer her.”

R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

Alleluia Psalm 119;105

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

Mark 4:21-25

21Jesus said to His disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?

22For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. 23Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” 

24He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.

25To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

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Notes on Readings:

[1] 2 Samuel 7:19 - This too you have shown to man: the text as transmitted has, rather, "and this is instruction for (or: the law of) mankind." The author of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 17:17) saw approximately the same phrase, which he endeavored to fit into the context in a quite different sense. The above is conjectural; compare with Deuteronomy 5:24.