First Reading and the Psalm
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
The Gospel, Mark 1:21-28

From the choral works of Z Randall Stroope
“The Conversion of Saul”

“Paul’s conversion matured in his encounter with the Risen Christ; it was this encounter that radically changed his life. What happened to him on the road to Damascus is what Jesus asks in today’s Gospel: Saul is converted because, thanks to the divine light, “he has believed in the Gospel”. In this consists his and our conversion: in believing in Jesus dead and risen and in opening to the illumination of his divine grace. In that moment Saul understood that his salvation did not depend on good works fulfilled according to the law, but on the fact that Jesus died also for him the persecutor and has risen. This truth by which every Christian life is enlightened thanks to Baptism completely overturns our way of life. To be converted means, also for each one of us, to believe that Jesus “has given himself for me”, dying on the Cross (cf. Galatians 2: 20) and, risen, lives with me and in me. Entrusting myself to the power of hisforgiveness, letting myself be taken by his hand, I can come out of the quicksands of pride and sin, of deceit and sadness, of selfishness and of every false security, to know and live the richness of his love.”( Pope Benedict XVI from address given on January 25, 2009)

Mark breaks open St. Paul’s letter to the Timothy–

Exactly who was St. Paul writing to in his letter to Timothy? What was the purpose of the letter?  What was the message?  How does it apply to our lives today?

[powerpress]

Mark Hart is an author, speaker, director and teacher, Mark’s work both written and spoken, is known across the country and world. While he serves as the Vice President of LIFE TEEN, he is known to tens of thousands simply as the “Bible Geek ®” Mark passionately echoes the gospel to all he encounters. He is as deep as he is funny, and his love for his wife and daughters is second only to his immense love for Jesus Christ.

Visit Mark at www.lifeteen.com

The First Reading and the Psalm
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The Gospel, Mark 1:14-20

Mark breaks open St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians–

Exactly who was St. Paul writing to in his letter to the Philippians? What was the purpose of the letter?  What was the message?  How does it apply to our lives today?

[powerpress]

Mark Hart is an author, speaker, director and teacher, Mark’s work both written and spoken, is known across the country and world. While he serves as the Vice President of LIFE TEEN, he is known to tens of thousands simply as the “Bible Geek ®” Mark passionately echoes the gospel to all he encounters. He is as deep as he is funny, and his love for his wife and daughters is second only to his immense love for Jesus Christ.

Visit Mark at www.lifeteen.com

First Reading and Psalm
1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
The Gospel, John 1:35-42

Fr. Francis Martin is a renowned Scripture scholar and Professor Emeritus of New Testament at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Fr. Martin is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. where he is also chaplain of the Mother of God Community in Gaithersburg, MD.