Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Reading I 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
After Nathan had spoken to King David,
the king went in and sat before the LORD and said,
“Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house,
that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD;
you have also spoken of the house of your servant
for a long time to come:
this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD!
“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever,
and you, LORD, have become their God.
And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made
concerning your servant and his house,
and do as you have promised.
Your name will be forever great, when men say,
‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’
and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel,
who said in a revelation to your servant,
‘I will build a house for you.’
Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth;
you have made this generous promise to your servant.
Do, then, bless the house of your servant
that it may be before you forever;
for you, Lord GOD, have promised,
and by your blessing the house of your servant
shall be blessed forever.”
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14
R. (Lk 1:32b) The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
LORD, remember David
and all his anxious care;
How he swore an oath to the LORD,
vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
“I will not enter the house where I live,
nor lie on the couch where I sleep;
I will give my eyes no sleep,
my eyelids no rest,
Till I find a home for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
The LORD swore an oath to David
a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
“Your own offspring
I will set upon your throne.”
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
“If your sons keep my covenant,
and the decrees which I shall teach them,
Their sons, too, forever
shall sit upon your throne.”
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he prefers her for his dwelling:
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her I will dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
Alleluia Psalm 119:105
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mark 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
January 29, 2026 // Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Mark 4:21-25
Reflect on the Word //
From time to time, an invisible, impassable chasm opens up between my husband and me, a rift in connection that feels impossible to mend. Sometimes it can take us days to repair. It usually begins with a small miscommunication, then hurt feelings, then botched attempts to repair, and bewildered silence or smoldering anger at being misunderstood or feeling unloved.
It takes time and humility to build reliable bridges of reconciliation after a conflict. There are differences in love languages and communication styles. And it takes a lot of vulnerability to let go of the fear that if I choose to love humbly and sacrificially, my husband might not respond in kind. I worry that I will disappear, that my needs won't be met, that I might run out of love.
When I act this way, I forget that the Source of love is not my husband, but Jesus. When I fear that the sacrifice of loving my husband and children well and abundantly might use me up, I can look at the Cross. My Savior poured out his life for love, and I can’t outdo Him in generosity. I can also trust His promises. Jesus says in today’s Gospel that “the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given” (Mark 4:24).
When we fear that we won’t have enough love to give to our families and others in our lives, instead of rationing it carefully, we need to grab a bigger bucket and head to the Cross. We need to pour and give more freely, trusting that God will provide for us and them.
Relate to the Lord // Where have you been battling fear? Share it honestly with Jesus today so He can give you His peace.
Elizabeth Blanke Show is a remarried widow and mama to seven beautiful kiddos. She is passionate about creating community, and loves gathering people to share meals and music in her home. She also loves spending time in nature and exploring new places. You can find her on Instagram @elizaraxi.
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