St. Vincent Ferrer Parish

Reading
Hebrews 10:19-25

Brothers and sisters: Since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Responsorial Psalm
“Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.”
Psalm 24:1-2. 3-4ab. 5-6

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? Or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Gospel
Mark 4:21-25

Jesus 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? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who ears to hear ought to hear. He 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. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

[January 28]

Thomas was born about the year 1225 into the family of the Count of Aquino. He first studied at the monastery of Monte Cassino and later at the University of Naples. Afterward he joined the Friars Preachers and completed his studies at Paris and Cologne, his instructor being Saint Albert the Great. Becoming himself a teacher, he wrote many learned volumes and was especially renowned for his philosophical studies. Saint Thomas died near Terracina on March 7, 1274, but his memory is honored on January 28, the day his body was transferred to Toulose in 1396.

Prayer
God our Father,
you made Thomas Aquinas known for his holiness and learning.
Help us to grow in wisdom by his teaching
and in holiness by imitating his faith.

Grant this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Reading
Hebrews 10:11-18

Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequency those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. The holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after sating: “This is the covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write upon their minds,’ ” he also says: “Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Responsorial Psalm
“You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.”
Psalm 110:1. 2. 3. 4

The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.”
R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion The Lord says, “Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Gospel
Mark 4:1-20

On another occasion he began to teach by the sea. A vary large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where is had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. Some seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” And when he was alone, those present along the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside comes in parables, so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’ ” Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the y people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.