Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(II).

First reading	1 Samuel 1:9-20

‘The Lord remembered Hannah and she gave birth to Samuel.’

In those days: After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the Temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant, and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.’

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, ‘How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.’ But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.’ Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.’ And she said, ‘Let your servant find favour in your eyes.’ Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Elkanah and Hannah rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.’

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm
1 S 2:1. 4-5. 6-7. 8a-d. ℟1a

My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.

My heart exults in the Lord;

my horn is exalted in my God.

My mouth derides my foes,

as I rejoice in your salvation.

My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.

The bows of the mighty are broken,

while the feeble gird on strength.

The sated hire themselves out for bread,

while the hungry hunger no more.

The barren wife gives birth to seven,

while the one with many children is desolate.

My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.

The Lord deals death and brings to life,

casts down to Sheol and raises up.

The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings down low yet lifts up high.

My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.

He raises the poor from the dust,

lifts the needy from the ash-heap,

to give them a seat with nobles,

to inherit a throne of glory.

My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.

Gospel Acclamation
Cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Alleluia, alleluia.

Receive the word of God, not as human words,

but as what it really is, the word of God.

Alleluia.

Gospel	Mark 1:21-28

‘He taught them as one who had authority.’

Jesus and his disciples went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

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Christian Art

Each day, The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection on the Gospel of the day.

The readings on this page are from the English Standard Version, which is used at Mass in Great Britain. The Jerusalem Bible (which is used at Mass in much of the English-speaking world) will appear instead if you set this page to use a calendar from outside Great Britain. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.