‘Rise and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on the name of Jesus.’
In those days: Paul said to the people, ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed towards Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
‘As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, “What shall I do, Lord?” And the Lord said to me, “Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.” And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
‘And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, “The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” ’
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 117(116):1. 2. ℟ Mark 16:15
Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.
or: Alleluia.
O praise the Lord, all you nations;
acclaim him, all you peoples!
Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.
or: Alleluia.
For his mercy has prevailed over us;
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.
or: Alleluia.
Gospel Acclamation
Cf. John 15:16
Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you out of the world, says the Lord,
that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.
Alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 16:15-18
‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.’
At that time: Jesus appeared to the Eleven and he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’
Universalis podcast: The week ahead – from 26 January to 1 Fenruary
Sunday of the Word of God. Reading; listening; commentaries. Lectio Divina. Saint Thomas Aquinas. (17 minutes) Episode notes.
The readings on this page are from the English Standard Version, which is used at Mass in Great Britain. The Jerusalem Bible (which is used at Mass in much of the English-speaking world) will appear instead if you set this page to use a calendar from outside Great Britain. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.