29 January 2026 (Thursday) / Ordinary Weekday. Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time. Thursday of week 3 in Ordinary Time

29 January 2026 (Thursday)

Ordinary Weekday.
Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time.
Thursday of week 3 in Ordinary Time.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Second Samuel 7: 18-19, 24-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 132: 1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14
Alleluia: Psalms 119: 105
Gospel: Mark 4: 21-25

First Reading : 2 Samuel 7:18‐19,24‐29

After Nathan had spoken to him, King David went in and, seated before the Lord, said: ‘Who am I, O Lord, and what is my House, that you have led me as far as this? Yet in your sight, O Lord, this is still not far enough, and you make your promises extend to the House of your servant for a far‐distant future. You have constituted your people Israel to be your own people for ever; and you, Lord, have become their God.
  ‘Now, O Lord, always keep the promise you have made your servant and his House, and do as you have said. Your name will be exalted for ever and men will say, “The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel.” The House of your servant David will be made secure in your presence, since you yourself, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, “I will build you a House”; hence your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to you. Yes, Lord, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to your servant. Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your presence; for you, Lord, have spoken; and with your blessing the House of your servant will be for ever blessed.’

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 131(132):1‐5,11‐14

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
O Lord, remember David
  and all the many hardships he endured,
the oath he swore to the Lord,
  his vow to the Strong One of Jacob.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
‘I will not enter the house where I live
  nor go to the bed where I rest.
I will give no sleep to my eyes,
  to my eyelids I will give no slumber
till I find a place for the Lord,
  a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob.’
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
The Lord swore an oath to David;
  he will not go back on this word:
‘A son, the fruit of your body,
  will I set upon your throne.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
‘If they keep my covenant in truth
  and my laws that I have taught them,
their sons also shall rule
  on your throne from age to age.’
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
For the Lord has chosen Zion;
  he has desired it for his dwelling:
‘This is my resting‐place for ever;
  here have I chosen to live.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

Alleluia: Psalms 119: 105
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
105 A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Mark 4:21‐25

Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp‐stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’
  He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’

For our reflection today:

By what standard do I measure others? By what standard do I measure myself? Is it a generous standard, filled with God’s love, or is it a low standard? And by this standard I will be judged, not by any other: the one, precisely the one that I use. What level have I set my bar at? At a high level? We must think about this. And we see this not only, not so much in the good things we do or the bad things we do, but in our ongoing lifestyle. And as a Christian, do I ask myself, what is the benchmark, the touchstone for knowing if I am at a Christian level, a level that Jesus wants? It is the ability to make oneself humble; it is the ability to suffer humiliation. A Christian who is not able to bear the humiliations of life is lacking something. He is a Christian by “veneer”, or out of expediency. “With the measure you use, you will be measured”, the same measure. If it is a Christian measure, which follows Jesus on his path, I will be judged with the same measure, with much, much, much pity, with much compassion, with much mercy. But if my measure is worldly and I only use the Christian faith - yes, I do, I go to Mass, but I live like a worldly person - I will be measured by that measure.  (Pope Francis, Homily of the Mass at Santa Marta, 30 January 2020)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)