Catholic Bible reading for today 25 January 2021

 Daily Mass Readings for Monday, 25 January 2021

Conversion of Paul, Apostle Feast

First Reading: Acts 22: 3-16 or Acts 9: 1-22

3 And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day:

4 Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5 As the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the ancients: from whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 And it came to pass, as I was going, and drawing nigh to Damascus at midday, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great light:

7 And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8 And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9 And they that were with me, saw indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me.

10 And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise, and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do.

11 And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there,

13 Coming to me, and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up. And I the same hour looked upon him.

14 But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou shouldst know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldst hear the voice from his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of those things which thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.

or

1 And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

2 And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.

4 And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

6 And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

7 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him, stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus.

9 And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Stait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.

12 (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.)

13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.

15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way; for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.

19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.

20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 And all that heard him, were astonished, and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name: and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 117: 1bc, 2

1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

2 For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

Gospel: Mark 16: 15-18

15 And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

✍️-Br. Biniush Topno

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आज का पवित्र वचन 25 जनवरी 2021, सोमवार सन्त पौलुस का मन परिवर्तन

 

25 जनवरी 2021, सोमवार

सन्त पौलुस का मन परिवर्तन

पहला पाठ : प्रेरित-चरित 22:3-1‍6

3) "मैं यहूदी हूँ। मेरा जन्म तो किलिकिया के तरसुस नगर में हुआ था, किन्तु मेरा पालन-पोषण यहाँ इस शहर में हुआ। गमालिएल के चरणों में बैठ कर मुझे पूर्वजों की संहिता की कट्टर व्याख्या के अनुसार शिक्षा-दीक्षा मिली। मैं ईश्वर का वैसा ही उत्साही उपासक था, जैसे आज आप सब हैं।

4) मैंने इस पन्थ को समाप्त करने के लिए इस पर घोर अत्याचार किया और इसके स्त्री-पुरुषों को बाँध-बाँध कर बन्दीगृह में डाल दिया।

5) प्रधानयाजक तथा समस्त महासभा मेरी इस बात के साक्षी हैं। उन्हीं से पत्र ले कर मैं दमिश्क के भाइयों के पास जा रहा था, जिससे वहाँ के लोगों को भी बाँध कर येरुसालेम ले आऊँ और दण्ड दिलाऊँ।

6) जब मैं यात्रा करते-करते दमिश्क के पास पहुँचा, तो दोपहर के लगभग एकाएक आकाश से एक प्रचण्ड ज्योति मेरे चारों ओर चमक उठी।

7) मैं भूमि पर गिर पड़ा और मुझे एक वाणी यह कहते हुए सुनाई दी, ‘साऊल! साऊल! तुम मुझ पर क्यों अत्याचार करते हो?’

8) मैंने उत्तर दिया ‘प्रभु! आप कौन हैं!’ उन्होंने मुझ से कहा, ‘मैं ईसा नाज़री हूँू, जिस पर तुम अत्याचार करते हो’।

9) मेरे साथियों ने ज्योति तो देखी, किन्तु मुझ से बात करने वाले की आवाज़ नहीं सुनी।

10) मैने कहा, ‘प्रभु! मुझे क्या करना चाहिए?’ प्रभु ने उत्तर दिया, ‘उठो और दमिश्क जाओ। तुम्हें जो कुछ करना है, वह सब तुम्हें वहाँ बताया जायेगा।’

11) उस ज्योति के तेज के कारण मैं देखने में असमर्थ हो गया था, इसलिए मेरे साथी मुझे हाथ पकड़ कर ले चले और इस प्रकार मैं दमिश्क पहुँचा।

12) "वहाँ अनानीयस नामक सज्जन मुझ से मिलने आये। वे संहिता पर चलने वाले भक्त और वहाँ रहने वाले यहूदियों में प्रतिष्ठित थे।

13) उन्होंने मेरे पास खड़ा हो कर कहा, "भाई साऊल! दृष्टि प्राप्त कीजिए’। उसी क्षण मेरी आँखों की ज्योति लौट आयी और मैंने उन्हें देखा।

14) तब उन्होंने कहा, ‘हमारे पूर्वजों के ईश्वर ने आप को इसलिए चुना कि आप उसकी इच्छा जान लें, धर्मात्मा के दर्शन करें और उनके मुख की वाणी सुनें;

15) क्योंकि आपको ईश्वर की ओर से सब मनुष्यों के सामने उन सब बातों का साक्ष्य देना है, जिन्हें आपने देखा और सुना है।

16) अब आप देर क्यों करें? उठ कर बपतिस्मा ग्रहण करें और उनके नाम की दुहाई दे कर अपने पापों से मुक्त हो जायें’।

सुसमाचार : मारकुस 16:15-18

15) इसके बाद ईसा ने उन से कहा, "संसार के कोने-कोने में जाकर सारी सृष्टि को सुसमाचार सुनाओ।

16) जो विश्वास करेगा और बपतिस्मा ग्रहण करेगा, उसे मुक्ति मिलेगी। जो विश्वास नहीं करेगा, वह दोषी ठहराया जायेगा।

17) विश्वास करने वाले ये चमत्कार दिखाया करेंगे। वे मेरा नाम ले कर अपदूतों को निकालेंगे, नवीन भाषाएँ बोलेंगे।

18) और साँपों को उठा लेंगे। यदि वे विष पियेंगे, तो उस से उन्हें कोई हानि नहीं होगी। वे रोगियों पर हाथ रखेंगे और रोगी स्वस्थ हो जायेंगे।“

📚 मनन-चिंतन

आज हम सन्त पौलुस के हृदय-परिवर्तन का महान पर्व मनाते हैं। हमें ज्ञात है कि पहले सन्त पौलुस को साउल के नाम से जाना जाता था, और वह ख्रिस्तियों पर प्रभु येसु में उनके विश्वास के कारण अत्याचार करता था। इस ‘नेक और महान’ कम के लिए बड़े-बड़े नेताओं और धर्मगुरुओं का हाथ उसके ऊपर था। वह समझता था कि वह जो भी कर रहा है वह सही है और ईश्वर का कार्य है, इसलिए बड़े उत्साह के साथ उस काम में लगा रहता था। उसने बड़ी निर्दयता के साथ ईसाइयों पर भरपूर अत्याचार किया। प्रभु येसु कहाँ ख़ामोश रहने वाले थे, क्योंकि साउल उनके शरीर, मसीही समुदाय पर अत्याचार कर रहा था। जब साउल का सामना प्रभु येसु से हुआ तो वह पूर्ण रूप से बदल गया।

सन्त पौलुस का यह हृदय परिवर्तन हमारे लिए महत्वपूर्ण और आदर्श है क्योंकि उसके बाद वह पूर्ण रूप से बदल गया। उसका उत्साह अत्याचार से बदलकर सुसमाचार प्रचार के लिए बदल गया, उसके परिवर्तन के कारण उसके शुभ चिंतक ही उसके दुश्मन बन गए। उसने सुसमाचार के कारण विश्वासियों पर जो भी अत्याचार किए थे, उसी सुसमाचार के लिए उससे भी अधिक कठोर अत्याचार और कष्ट सहे। जब ईश्वर हमें छू लेते हैं तो यही होता है। सब कुछ बदल जाता है, हम उसके हाथों में उसके संदेश को संसार के कोने-कोने में ले जाने के लिए माध्यम बन जाते हैं। आइये हम सन्त पौलुस से प्रार्थना करें कि वह सुसमाचार के लिए अपने जैसा उत्साह प्रदान करे। आमेन।

📚 REFLECTION

Today the mother Church celebrates the great feast of the conversion of St. Paul. We know that earlier St. Paul was known as Saul and persecuted the christians because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The great and responsible leaders supported him in this great and sacred duty, at least that is what he thought of it. He was full of zeal to do what he thought was right. He tortured and persecuted believers mercilessly. Jesus did not keep silence because it was his body that he persecuted. And then Saint Paul encountered Jesus, and was changed.

This conversion of St Paul is important and ideal because it changed him completely. His zeal changed from persecuting to preaching the same faith, because of his conversion, his supporters became his enemies, whatever persecution he caused to the believers, after his conversion he underwent more rigourous prosecutions, and hardships for the same gospel. This is what happens when we encounter God. Everything changes, we become instruments in his hands, to take his gospel to the ends of the world. Let us pray to Saint Paul to intercede for us and give us the same zeal for the gospel. Amen.

✍ -Br. Biniush Topno



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Praise the Lord!