FEBRUARY

6 Mon St Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Memorial Gn 1:1-19/Mk 6:53-56 

7 Tue Weekday Gn 1:20—2:4a/Mk 7:1-13 

8 Wed Weekday [St Jerome Emiliani; St Josephine Bakhita, Virgin]

 Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17/Mk 7:14-23 

9 Thu Weekday Gn 2:18-25/Mk 7:24-30 

10 Fri St Scholastica, Virgin Memorial Gn 3:1-8/Mk 7:31-37 

11 Sat Weekday [Our Lady of Lourdes; BVM] Gn 3:9-24/Mk 8:1-10 

12 SUN SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Sir 15:15-20/1 Cor 2:6-10/Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37

In our readings from Mark’s Gospel this week Jesus goes into gentile territory. Jesus’ parable dismissing the prohibition against unclean food and other strictures (Wednesday ) prepares for his journey into gentile territory and his missionary outreach there. (Thursday and Friday)

The readings from Genesis this week give us an opportunity to reflect on the environment with Laudato Si’.

The feast of the martyrs of Japan, Paul Miki and Companions (February 6) recalls the suffering that marks the beginning of Christianity in Japan. Remember the church in Japan. 

St. Josephine Bakhita (Wednesday), like St. Agnes and St Agatha, offers an heroic story of an abused woman sustained by God’s grace. Pope Francis called attention to abused women in the Congo and Sudan a few days ago on his visits there. St. Scholastica (February 10) is a woman who brought about a storm. (Thursday)

Friday we remember Our Lady of Lourdes, a day of prayer for the sick.

For readings and scriptural commentary cf.  www.usccb.org