Today we begin to read from the Gospel of Mark and this will continue until the end of November, apart from Lent and Eastertide. Mark is the shortest Gospel and considered by most to be the first one. The passages are selected from the Gospel of Mark in the order in which they occur so that come November we shall have worked our way through Mark.


First Reading Ref: Jonah 3:1-5.10 A reading from the prophet Jonah
Jonah is the story about an unwilling, disgruntled prophet who, in spite of himself, converted Godless Niniveh (capital of Assyria) to belief and repentance. This story was meant as a lesson to the people of Judah. The parallel to today's Gospel is evident.

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: Up! he said Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to. Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a days journey. He preached in these words, Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed. And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened. This is the word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm The Psalm is a prayer of those who have been converted.
(R) Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour. (R)

Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old. In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. (R)

The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray.
He guides the humble in the right path; he teaches his way to the poor. (R)
Second Reading Ref: 1 Cor 7:29-31
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

The Corinthians had asked Paul for guidance concerninng questions of marriage and the single life. Paul's teaching is overshadowed by the idea that Christ may come soon or that death will come upon us soon. Here is the framework for that teaching: do not hold on to this world, for it is passing away.

Brothers, our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation.

Alleluia, Alleluia!
The Kingdom of God is close at hand,
believe the Good News.
Alleluia.

Gospel Ref: Mark 1:14-20 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
This Gospel of Mark is the earliest, simplest, the shortest of the four. Only 16 chapters long, it is pamphlet size. Today we read how Jesus started his ministry. He proclaimed God's Good News. He summoned the first Apostles.

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. 'The time has come' he said 'and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.' As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake - for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him. This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Now Is The Hour
We shall be reading from Mark's Gospel for most of this year. The first half of it describes Jesus' ministry of healing and preaching in Galilee. He begins by calling people to repent and embrace the Good News. For Mark 'believe in the Gospel' meant believe in the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Repentance is one of the main themes of the readings. The first reading relates how the preaching of Jonah met with an immediate response in the pagan city of Niniveh. The story shows the possibility of a heathen city repenting and turning to God. It also shows the mercy and forgiveness of God.
If the Ninivites responded so fully to the preaching of Jonah, how much more fully should we respond to the preaching of Jesus. The Gospel shows the prompt response of the first disciples to follow Him.
Even though we cannot share Paul's belief that the second coming of Christ is imminent, he still has an important message for us, namely, that this world is not the be-all and the end-all. We are destined for the next world. This should profoundly affect the way we live in this world. Of course, for each of us death is the end of our time of life in this world, and the end of opportunity to respond to Christ's call to repentance. In the word of Paul: "Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation."

Presentation to Fr. Teddy O'Sullivan We have been asked by a group of parishioners to invite you to a meeting in Kilmurry GAA Hall on Wed. night next, Jan. 28, at 8.30 p.m. to discuss the matter. This, of course, is an invitation to people from all areas of the parish.

Diabetes Federation of Ireland: To support Diabetes Education in Cork you are invited to organize a Cup of Tea at home, in the community or the workplace. Evidently it can be a devastating illness and can creep up quietly. Materials for the tea can be had by phoning 021 427 4229; Lo-call 1850 909 909.or Email info@diabetes.ie

Exploring Basic Christian Beliefs: At Mardyke House, Cork at 7 p.m.
Jan 29th : The God of Christians & Other Faiths - Gerard Condon.
Feb 5th : The Treasury of Scripture & Tradition - John Newman.
Feb 12th : Do We Need The Church - Christy O'Shaughnessy.
Feb 19th : Taking a Sacramental View - Sacramentality - Dr. Eugene Duffy.
Feb 26th : What About Jesus Christ? (Revelation of God) - Fr. Noel O'Sullivan.

Daily Mass Mon - Fri in Kilmurry @ 10am except Thurs in Canovee @ 10am

Vigil Mass next weekend Sat: Canovee @ 6:30pm. Kilmurry @ 8pm
Sun: Kilmurry @ 10am Cloughduv @ 11:30am.

Recently Deceased
Donal Cronin, Aherla , Jimmy O'Mahony, Galvin's Tce.,Crookstown, Jerome O'Shea, Clodagh.

Anniversaries Fr. Jack McSwiney P.P. Kilmurry. Jeremiah Deasy, Aherlamore. Denis & Maureen Buckley, Ryecourt. Jerry Murphy, Coolnasoon, Nora May & Dick Long, Upper Bellmount. Jerry Twohig, Kilmurry,

Parish Holy Hour in Kilmurry Church on Sun. Feb 1st from 5-6pm. Come into the presence of Jesus and experience the peace and love that flows from him during this guided hour of prayer for vocations and families. Let us be filled with fresh hope as we celebrate together in prayer and song. Delight in me and I will give you the desires
of your heart (Psalms 37:4)

Siobhan Allen Chiropodist available 1st Friday of every month at Dr. Murphy's Surgery, Cloughduv. from 9am to 12noon.

West Cork Rural Transport, Canovee route every Tues, this service is open to everyone. For more information Phone 087-22 43 019

Kilmurry GAA Under/age A G M on Tue 27th Jan @8:30pm in Sports Complex. All welcome

Cloughduv Underage A G M on Mon Jan 26th @ 8pm in Clubhouse. All welcome.

Swimming at Brookfield every Sat from 9 - 10pm. Adults & children welcome Contact Kathleen 021 7334506

What it means to be Adopted. Children in a classroom were discussing the picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had different colour hair than the other family members. One child suggested that he was adopted, and a little girl said, "I know all about adoptions because I'm adopted." "What does it mean to be adopted?" asked another child". "It means," said the little girl, "that you grew in your mother's heart instead of her tummy."

The Most Caring Child A famous author was once asked to judge a contest. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old whose next-door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

Prayer Thought
'Repent and Believe in the Gospel'
What Jonah preached in Niniveh, what Christ preached at the outset of his ministry, the message is the same: repentance is always needed before we can accept the Good News.