FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mk 2:1-12) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mk 2:5)

FIRST READING - 4:12-16

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews

The word of God is living and effective,

sharper than any two-edged sword,

penetrating even between soul and spirit,

joints and marrow,

and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

No creature is concealed from him,

but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him

to whom we must render an account.

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who has similarly been tested in every way,

yet without sin.

So let us confidently approach the throne of grace

to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mark 2:13-17

From the Gospel according to Mark

Jesus went out along the sea.

All the crowd came to him and he taught them.

As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,

sitting at the customs post.

Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

And he got up and followed Jesus.

While he was at table in his house,

many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;

for there were many who followed him.

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners

and tax collectors and said to his disciples,

“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus heard this and said to them,

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mk 2:1-12)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God continues to tell all humanity about the power and strength of God. He can dispel all diseases and impairments in this world. There is nothing that He cannot do.

Paralytic is a disease that humans are helpless against, but when they run to God, He will cure everything; besides Him, no one has the power and strength like Him. The evidence shows that when the paralyzed man was carried by his brothers and sisters to Jesus to ask Him to heal him, with just one word from Him, this paralyzed man stood up and walked again. Not only that, He also healed the disease of the soul. He forgives all the sins of that soul; when the body and soul are cleansed, that person returns to normality like everyone else. Only the almighty God has the power to forgive all the sins of man; only the almighty God has the power to cure physical illness.

Besides, God also lets all mankind know that: there must be love and solidarity among fellow human beings. When someone has faith, whoever has the love of God, that person must also know how to share with his brothers and sisters; do not live selfishly, only caring for yourself without thinking of others. Through the Word of God today, God has called all mankind: to look at the image of those who removed the roof, to lower the paralyzed man right to Jesus, and to ask Him to heal him.

Today's Word of God also praises the love that everyone has for their fellow human beings, and also praises the great faith of those who believe in the power of the Son of God, believing that He has the power to heal both spiritual and physical illnesses. But besides that, God also teaches everyone: do not be jealous, do not be arrogant, do not provoke; When those who are filled with grace, sent by God to heal, do not try to find ways to refute God's will. God also warns those who are falling into Satan's temptation to oppose God's work, to oppose those chosen by God, to be awake, do not fall into Satan's temptations anymore!

Just as in the time of Jesus, there were people who sought to refute God, to oppose God; today, God is with humanity and accompanies people; those who are deliberately opposing God's work, wake up and stand up to walk on the path of God's light and truth; do not walk in darkness anymore! Return to God's love and be reconciled with Him.

Recognize your status as a sinful person who is shown mercy by God, loved by God, do not live in sinful passions, do not live in selfishness, jealousy, and arrogance anymore! Let us stand up, to love, care for, and support our fellow human beings, to collaborate together in the work of salvation of God the Father, to lead souls back to His love, this is what pleases God the Father.

God the Father calls on all humanity: to care for, to support our fellow human beings in faith; to bring God to everyone, so that everyone can also enjoy the love and mercy of God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 January 17th, 2025 Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven