January 25, 2017
I hope you have a nice day today too.
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The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle (Feast)
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Gospel: Mark 16:15-18
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
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Acts 22:3-16
3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and travelled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.
7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
8 I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'
9 "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
10 I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.'
11 When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him.
14 He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
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Acts 9:1-22
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he travelled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 He said, "Who are you, Lord?"
The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.*
6 But† rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 The men who travelled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.
8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
He said, "Behold, it's me, Lord."
11 The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judah‡ for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight."
13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."
17 Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptised.
19 He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, "Isn't this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!"
22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
*9:5: TR adds "It's hard for you to kick against the cattle prods."
†9:6: TR omits "But"
‡9:11: or, Judas
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* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/
◇ January 25, 2017 Daily Mass Reading
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/17_01_25.mp3
◇ Daily Readings January 25, 2017
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012517.cfm
◇ Liturgical Calendar
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendarday.php?date=2017-01-25
◇ Zondervan King James Audio Bible
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/kjv/Mark.16
◇ King James Version Bible Online
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/book.php?book=Mark&chapter=16&verse=
◇ The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm
◇ Douay-Rheims Bible
http://www.drbo.org/
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