2ND SAMUEL 5: 1 – 7, 10

In those days: All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’ “So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off’ — thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Sion, that is, the city of David. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 89: 20 – 22, 25 – 26 (R.) 25a

R/. My mercy and my faithfulness shall be with him.

Then you spoke in a vision.
To your faithful ones you said,
“I have set the crown on a warrior,
I have exalted one chosen from the people. R/.

“I have found my servant David,
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him,
and my arm shall make him strong. ” R/.

“My mercy and my faithfulness shall be with him;
by my name his might shall be exalted.
I will stretch out his hand to the Sea,
and his right hand upon the Rivers.” R/.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION.
2nd Timothy 1: 10.

Alleluia.
Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
MARK 3: 22 – 30

At that time: The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiving the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but who ever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit”

The Gospel of the Lord.

REFLECTION: The Sin Against the Holy Spirit
January 24, 2022

Now this is a frightening thought. Normally when speaking of sin we quickly focus in on the mercy of God and His abundant desire to forgive. But in this passage we have something that could at first appear quite contrary to the mercy of God. Is it true that some sins will not be forgiven by God? The answer is yes and no.

This passage reveals to us that there is a particular sin, the sin against the Holy Spirit, that will not be forgiven. What is this sin? Why would it not be forgiven? Traditionally, this sin has been seen as a sin of final impenitence, or presumption. It’s the situation where someone sins gravely and then either fails to have any sorrow for that sin or simply presumes on God’s mercy without truly repenting. Either way, this lack of sorrow closes the door to God’s mercy.

Of course it must also be said that whenever a person’s heart is changed, and he/she grows in sincere sorrow for sin, God is there to immediately welcome that person back with open arms. God would never turn away from someone who humbly returns to Him with a contrite heart.

Reflect, today, upon the abundant mercy of God, but also reflect upon your own duty to foster true sorrow for sin. Do your part and you will be assured that God will lavish His mercy and forgiveness upon you. There is no sin too great when we have hearts that are humble and contrite.

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. I do acknowledge my sin and I am sorry for it. Help me, dear Lord, to continually foster within my heart a greater sorrow for sin and a deeper trust in Your Divine Mercy. I thank You for Your perfect and unfailing love for me and for all. Jesus, I trust in You.