First Reading

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (JB)

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy

I will put my words into the prophet’s mouth, and he will tell them all I command.

Moses said to the people: ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among yourselves, from your own brothers; to him you must listen. This is what you yourselves asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the Assembly. “Do not let me hear again” you said “the voice of the Lord my God, nor look any longer on this great fire, or I shall die”; and the Lord said to me, “All they have spoken is well said. I will raise up a prophet like yourself for them from their own brothers; I will put my words into his mouth and he shall tell them all I command him. The man who does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name, shall be held answerable to me for it. But the prophet who presumes to say in my name a thing I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”‘

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy

Moses spoke to the people; he said:

“The Lord your God will raise up for you

a prophet like me from among your own people;

you shall heed such a prophet.

This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb

on the day of the assembly when you said:

‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more,

or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’

“Then the Lord replied to me:

‘They are right in what they have said.

I will raise up for them a prophet like you

from among their own people;

I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet,

who shall speak to them everything that I command.

“‘Anyone who does not heed the words

that the prophet shall speak in my name,

I myself will hold accountable.

But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods,

or who presumes to speak in my name

a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-

that prophet shall die.'”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 94:1-2, 6-9 (JB)

R. If today, you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;

hail the rock who saves us.

Let us come before him, giving thanks,

with songs let us hail the Lord. R.

Come in, let us kneel and bend low;

let us kneel before the God who made us

for he is our God and we

the people who belong to his pasture,

the flock that is led by his hand. R.

O that today you would listen to his voice!

‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

as on that day at Massah in the desert

when your fathers put me to the test;

when they tried me, though they saw my work.’ R.

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

The unmarried woman dedicates herself to the things of the Lord, that she might be holy.

I would like to see you free from all worry. An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord’s affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord; but a married man has to bother about the world’s affairs and devote himself to pleasing his wife: he is torn two ways. In the same way an unmarried woman, like a young girl, can devote herself to the Lord’s affairs; all she need worry about is being holy in body and spirit. The married woman, on the other hand, has to worry about the world’s affairs and devote herself to pleasing her husband. I say this only to help you, not to put a halter round your necks, but simply to make sure that everything is as it should be, and that you give your undivided attention to the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

I want you to be free from anxieties.

The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord,

how to please the Lord;

but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world,

how to please his wife,

and his interests are divided.

The unmarried woman and the virgin

are concerned about the affairs of the Lord,

so that they may be holy in body and spirit;

but the married woman is concerned about the affairs of the world,

how to please her husband.

I say this for your own benefit,

not to put any, restraint upon you,

but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 4:16 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

A people in darkness have seen a great light:

a radiant dawn shines on those lost in death.

Alleluia!

Matthew 4:16 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

A people in darkness have seen a great light:

a radiant dawn shines on those lost in death.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 1:21-28 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

This is a new kind of teaching that speaks with authority.

Jesus and his followers went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the Sabbath came Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.

In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit, and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

The disciples went to Capernaum;

and when the sabbath came,

Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.

They were astounded at his teaching,

for he taught them as one having authority,

and not as the scribes.

Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,

and he cried out,

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying,

“Be silent, and come out of him!”

And the unclean spirit, convulsing the man

and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another,

“What is this? A new teaching-with authority!

He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

At once Jesus’ fame began to spread

throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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