Monday, February 06, 2012 {Sts. Peter Baptist, OFM, Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
The Church teaches us that mercy belongs to God. Let us implore Him to bestow on us the spirit of mercy and compassion, so that we are filled with it and may never lose it. Only consider how much we ourselves are in need of mercy.
-- St. Vincent de Paul

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13(Solomon Brings the Sacred Chest to the Temple)1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ houses of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2 All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
3 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

4 They brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
5 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
6 The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
7 For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the poles of it above.
9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
10 It came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh,
11 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.
12 Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
13 I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.
Psalms: Psalm 132:6-10
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:
7 “We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.
8 Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place; You, and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priest be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!”
10 For your servant David’s sake, Don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.
Gospel: Mark 6:53-56(Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret)53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
55 and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was.
56 Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch just the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.