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The Word today, 05A

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Feb 7
  • 2 min read

February 09 - February 14, 2026



1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 The setting of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies completes the dedication of the Temple. As often, the imagery of cloud—revealing and concealing—conveys the presence of God. Notice the lack of any graven images.


Mark 6:53-56 The Gospel of Mark is told in an urgent, breathless style. Today we hear one of those compressed summaries, capturing the popularity of Jesus among the sick.


St Scholastica, virgin and religious


1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 Every religion has somehow to manage or negotiate the nearness of God (immanence) and the beyond of God (transcendence). Solomon gets it right, in this moving prayer.


Mark 7:1-13 Before we plunge into a condemnation of the shallowness of the Pharisees, it is worth remembering that the rules were designed to bring an experience of God’s presence into the everyday. Of course, they could become obsessive and pointless—features not unknown in the churches’ various devotions! Jesus is sharp in his response, but not any more sharp than any of the prophets of old.


Our Lady of Lourdes

St Gobnait, virgin


1 Kings 10:1-10 Finally, the famous queen of Sheba visits to sample the wisdom of Solomon— which she (rightly) attributes to God.


Mark 7:14-23 This Gospel reflects an important moment for early Christianity. Although tied to a historical context, the principles are timeless. It is what is on the inside which counts.



1 Kings 11:4-13 Under the guise of a prophetic judgment, the reading offers a broader “reading” of Israelite history: idolatry has disastrous consequences.


Mark 7:24-30 This story has always appealed — perhaps even more today. Jesus learns — at the hands of a woman!



1 Kings 11:29-32,12:19 This rather mysterious reading illustrates something familiar: frequently the prophets demonstrate their teaching with an action or a gesture, as in this reading.


Mark 7:31-37 A phrase from this Gospel has found its way into our baptismal ceremony. The priest touches the ears and mouth of the baby and says “ephphatha”. Today we get the context. We too can pray that our ears may be opened to the Gospel and that our mouths may be opened to proclaim it.


Sts Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop, Patrons of Europe


Acts 13:46-49 Our reading is suitable for the feast because it shows us the motivation of two apostles, as they turn to the Gentiles. Cyril and Methodius were likewise apostles to the Slav peoples.


Luke 10:1-9 The sending of the seventy-two was an extension of ministry of Jesus which anticipated the wider sending to the Gentiles in the Acts of the Apostles. It is, therefore, very suitable for the feast. We too today are called to take the Gospel beyond our own circles and, in the current phrase, beyond our comfort zones.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2026l, February 8). Fifth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020826.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 

The Word today, 04A

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Jan 31
  • 3 min read

February 02 - February 07, 2026


The Presentation in the Temple


Malachi 3:1-4 This rather fierce prophecy was offered at a time of religious reconstruction after disaster. There is no mistaking the plain meaning that it is the leadership which is in need of purification.


Hebrews 2:14-18 As we can see from the stories of his birth, Jesus can help us because he is one of us. This closing of the gap with humanity makes him the ideal priest, mediating God’s grace to us all.


Luke 2:22-40 There are so few elderly people in the New Testament, that it is delightful to find such wonderful characters as Simeon and Anna, still full of faith in old age.


St Ansgar, bishop; St Blaise, bishop, martyr


2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3 This is one of the most moving stories in the entire Old Testament. Absalom has rebelled again his father, but David still mourned him as his son.


Mark 6:1-6 It is surprising to see Jesus unable to do anything, so this scene is certainly historical. We do can block the action of grace in our own lives.



2 Samuel 24:2,8-17 In the Bible, why would a census be a sin? Possibly because the people belong to God, not to the king. True to his character, David repents, but is punished all the same.


Mark 6:1-6 This remarkable story is surely historical because it shows the powerlessness of Jesus. It is also a hint to us: sheer familiarity can close our eyes and our hearts to what God is doing today through the Gospel.


St Agatha, virgin and martyr


1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 The tumultuous career of David comes to a close and, as his death approaches, he has advice for Solomon, his son and successor.


Mark 6:7-13 Jesus empowers the twelve to undertake the very same ministry of proclaiming and healing. They are to travel light, taking nothing extra that might impede them and also taking the risk of being welcomed or not, as the case may be.


St Paul Miki and companions, martyrs


Ecclesiasticus 47:2-13 David’s status grew after the Exile in Babylon. Our reading today is a late Jewish reflection, which helps us to see how people viewed David just before the time of Jesus, himself a son of David.


Mark 6:14-29 At the hands of Mark, the death of John the Baptism foreshadows the destiny of Jesus. The arbitrariness of John’s beheading—to honour an oath spoken in a frivolous moment—is still shocking.


St Mel, bishop


1 Kings 3:4-13 This scene is a key to Solomon’s reputation for wisdom. God’s makes a very open offer to Solomon and, significantly, he opts to the spiritual gifts, which would make him famous.


Mark 6:30-34 It is instructive to see that Jesus himself was aware of need to balance life and work, prayer and ministry. This is true of us all in our different roles. At the same time, Jesus felt compassion for the crowd and, in spite of his own need of rest and refreshment, actually responded to the need of the people.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2026j, February 1). Fourth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020126.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 

The Word today, 03A

  • Writer: Admin
    Admin
  • Jan 24
  • 3 min read

January 26 - January 31, 2026


St Timothy and Titus, bishops


2 Timothy 1:1-8 The tone of encouragement is always needed and today, more than ever, we need the reminder to fan into a flame the gift of God.


Mark 4:26-34 A further few seed parables illuminate the Gospel. The parable of the farmer asleep is especially encouraging: just let things grow. Cf. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (1Corinthians 3:6)


St Angela Merici, virgin


2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19 The ark represented the presence of God on the move with the people. The settling down, so to speak, of God’s presence in Jerusalem, even without a temple, was indeed a momentous choice.


Mark 3:31-35 Our reading can feel a little unsettling because it sounds like Jesus is dismissing his family, including his mother. However, it is really an affirmation of the essence of discipleship.


St Thomas Aquinas, religious and doctor


2 Samuel 7:4-17 Today we read from one of a few absolutely central texts from the Old Testament. Earlier in the chapter, David made a proposal to build God a house. Through Nathan, God refuses David for the substantial reasons given. Nevertheless, a tremendous promise is made to David and his “house”, a mark of God’s love and faithfulness through time.


Mark 4:1-20 This long reading can be tricky. The original parable is given first, a parable from the lips of Jesus. The later explanation of the parable comes from church tradition, a kind of allegorical reading. The allegory narrows the original meaning of the parable. In between, the question of the disciples is difficult. It seems to be answering a later issue: how was that that most of Jesus’ fellow Jews did not recognise him as the Messiah?



2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 The full context of this reading is interesting. David proposed building a temple, a house for God. Speaking through Nathan the prophet, God said, no, but that God would build him a house, a dynasty. The bit we get to hear today is the pious part!! Christians see in Jesus, the Son of David, the fulfilment of God’s promise to be faithful to the house of David.


Mark 4:21-25 It may help to recall that in those days a lamp was a naked flame. Putting it under a bed would not be advisable at all! The enigmatic second saying is presented as a shocking contrast. It should read, “from the one who thinks he has (but really does not), even what he thinks he has will be taken away. It is a stern wake-up call.


St Aidan, bishop


2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17 This is a horrible and fascinating story. The opening lines set up the tension. It begins with, at the turn of the year when kings to campaigning and we expect to hear, “David went to war”, but on the contrary the wretch was at home committing adultery. To cover his tracks, David acted really, really badly, as we hear.


Mark 4:26-34 A further few seed parables illuminate the Gospel. The parable of the farmer asleep is especially encouraging: just let things grow. Cf. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (1Corinthians 3:6)


St John Bosco, priest and religious


2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17 Because of David’s adultery with the wife of Uriah and his subsequent murder, the prophet Nathan is sent by God to accuse David of his sins. The prophet begins by tricking the king into righteous anger and then very cleverly catching him out. The electric words are “You are the man.” David wasn’t the first or last person in the world to have been a hypocrite or to have acted inconsistently.


Mark 4:35-41 Already at the hands of Mark, the calming of the storm is to be read symbolically. The later church, under tremendous pressure during the Jewish War, questions the presence and even the concern of Jesus. The final question is one we need to ask again and again.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2026h, January 25). Third Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012526.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 
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