Today we’re called to embrace God’s promise of rest by uniting in faith and obedience. The First Reading from Hebrews warns us to avoid the pitfalls of disobedience and strive to enter into God’s rest. The Psalm reminds us not to forget the works of the Lord, encouraging us to keep our hearts steadfast. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a paralytic, demonstrating His authority to forgive sins and inviting us to rise and walk in newness of life. Together, these passages challenge us to deepen our faith, remember God’s deeds, and trust in Jesus’s power to heal and forgive.

Reading I

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11

Let us be on our guard
while the promise of entering into his rest remains,
that none of you seem to have failed.
For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.
But the word that they heard did not profit them,
for they were not united in faith with those who listened.
For we who believed enter into that rest, just as he has said:
As I swore in my wrath,
“They shall not enter into my rest,”
and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world.
For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner,
And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;
and again, in the previously mentioned place,
They shall not enter into my rest.
Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest,
so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!

What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
we will declare to the generation to come
The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

That they too may rise and declare to their sons
that they should put their hope in God,
And not forget the deeds of God
but keep his commands.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

And not be like their fathers, a generation wayward and rebellious,
A generation that kept not its heart steadfast
nor its spirit faithful toward God.

R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Alleluia

Luke 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves,
so he said,
“Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say,
‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—
he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded and glorified God, saying,
“We have never seen anything like this.”

Today in the readings, we’re reminded not to be as stubborn as a mule—seriously, don’t harden your hearts! The Holy Spirit urges us to stay open and faithful, avoiding the pitfalls of sin’s deceit. Meanwhile, in the Gospel, Jesus performs a miraculous healing, cleansing a leper who dared to ask. The lesson? Approach with faith, and be ready for transformation. Let’s not be the ones who miss out because we’re too set in our ways. Stay open, stay faithful, and watch miracles unfold!

Reading I

Hebrews 3:7-14

The Holy Spirit says:

Oh, that today you would hear his voice,

“Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion

in the day of testing in the desert,

where your ancestors tested and tried me

and saw my works for forty years.

Because of this I was provoked with that generation

and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart,

and they do not know my ways.’

As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”

Take care, brothers and sisters,

that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart,

so as to forsake the living God.

Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,”

so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.

We have become partners of Christ

if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:

“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

as in the day of Massah in the desert,

Where your fathers tempted me;

they tested me though they had seen my works.”

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Forty years I was wearied of that generation;

I said: “This people’s heart goes astray,

they do not know my ways.”

Therefore I swore in my anger:

“They shall never enter my rest.”

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Alleluia

Matthew 4:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,

“If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,

touched the leper, and said to him,

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Then he said to him,

“See that you tell no one anything,

but go, show yourself to the priest

and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.

He spread the report abroad

so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

He remained outside in deserted places,

and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Today Jesus is on a healing spree—curing fevers, casting out demons, and even squeezing in some early morning prayer time. The first reading from Hebrews reminds us that Jesus became like us to destroy the devil’s power and free us from the fear of death. The Psalm echoes God’s eternal faithfulness to His covenant. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law (talk about scoring points with the in-laws!), drives out demons, and still finds time to pray before dawn. It’s a divine reminder to balance action with reflection.

Reading I

Hebrews 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.

Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

Response: (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.

Response: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.

Response: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

Response: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations– which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac.

Response: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Alleluia

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.

Gospel

Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.