Sunday between 28 January and 3 February    

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading - Jonah 3.1-10

A reading from the book of Jonah. The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh, and declare there the message that I have given you.’ Jonah set out, and went to Nineveh, as the Lord had spoken. Nineveh was a city so large that it would take three days to walk across it. Jonah entered the city, going a day’s walk, announcing, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh will be destroyed!’ The people believed the word of God, declared a fast, and put on sackcloth - all the people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least. When news reached the king of Nineveh, the king also put on sackcloth, and ordered that all should join the fast, and cry out to God in prayer, and turn away from their evil and violent ways. And when God saw all that they did, and how they turned from their evil ways, God resolved not to bring about the calamity that had been declared against them. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 9.24-27

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. You know that, in a race, all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize. So run this race as if to win! Athletes work with discipline for an earthly reward - but we work for an eternal reward! So run, and work, with direction, and purpose, as I also continue to work with discipline, like an athlete, so that after teaching others, I myself should not fail to complete the race! This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Mark 1.14-28

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe the good news.’ As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and his brother Andrew, casting a fishing net into the lake. And Jesus said to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.’ Immediately, they left their nets, and followed him. As Jesus went a little further, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee, in their boat, mending the nets. Immediately, Jesus called them. And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, and followed Jesus. They went to Capernaum, and when the sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue, and taught. All were amazed at his teaching, for unlike their scribes, he taught with authority. While they were there in the synagogue, a man with an unclean spirit came in, and cried out, ‘What are you doing here, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!’ But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, cried out in a loud voice, and came out of him. They were all astounded, and asked one another, ‘What is this new teaching, with such authority? Even the unclean spirits obey him!’ And his fame spread through the entire region of Galilee. This is the Gospel of the Lord.