First Reading: 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
When David and Saul approached
(on David's return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."
Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
"They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship."
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.
Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul's son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
"My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know."
Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
"Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,
and the Lord brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him,
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood
by killing David without cause?"
Saul heeded Jonathan's plea and swore,
"As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed."
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13
R./ In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R./ In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R./ In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R./ In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R./ In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Gospel Reading: Mark 3:1-6
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and all good.
After reflecting on the conversion of St. Paul and praying for the unity of all Christians, we continue our journey through Ordinary Time, moving toward the approaching season of Lent. Today, we do so while celebrating the memory of Saints Timothy and Titus.
In Mark’s Gospel, the scribes accuse Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus answers with simple logic: a divided kingdom cannot stand. If Satan were driving out Satan, his kingdom would collapse.
Then, Jesus gives a serious warning about the sin against the Holy Spirit—the one sin that is unforgivable. This passage invites us to go deeper into our faith and to recognize Jesus’ authority. It calls us not to judge things on the surface, but to open our hearts to understand how the Spirit is moving and working in our daily lives.
The “Unforgivable” Sin This Gospel contains one of Jesus’ statements that has caused the most speculation and worry: “All sins and blasphemies will be forgiven… but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness.”
These words do not describe a limit on God’s mercy. Rather, they describe a limit that we place on that mercy.
When Jesus speaks of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, He isn’t trying to scare us; He is calling us to a conversion of heart. Sometimes this phrase sounds incredibly harsh—”that sin will not be forgiven”—and we might think God stops loving or forgiving us. But that is not the case. God always wants to forgive. The problem isn’t with God; it is with the person who closes themselves off completely to His love.
You see, the Holy Spirit is the one who helps us recognize our sin, ask for forgiveness, and change our lives. Therefore, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit means consciously rejecting that help. It is saying to God: “I don’t need You, I don’t want to change, and I don’t want Your forgiveness.”
A Hardened Heart Jesus gives this warning when the Pharisees, seeing an obvious act of healing and freedom, attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil. This wasn’t ignorance or honest doubt; it was a conscious, malicious rejection of the truth. The Pharisees saw Jesus’ good works—healings, deliverances, acts of love—and still claimed they came from evil. They called good “bad,” closing their hearts to the truth.
This is very serious because when you convince yourself that you don’t need God, you don’t ask for forgiveness. And if you don’t ask for forgiveness, you cannot receive it.
So, what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
It is not a curse word said in a moment of anger.
It is not a moment of human weakness.
It is a permanent, stubborn inner attitude: calling what clearly comes from God “evil.” It is deliberately rejecting the Spirit’s action that convinces us of sin, invites us to change, and offers pardon. As St. John Paul II described it, it is the sin of the person who refuses to be forgiven because they reject the very means of forgiveness.
Why is it unforgivable? Not because God doesn’t want to forgive, but because the Holy Spirit is the one who leads us to repentance. If you lock the door on the Spirit, you lock the door on forgiveness. God respects human freedom, even when that freedom shuts the door on His love.
A Word of Comfort If you are afraid that you have committed this sin, that very fear is proof that you haven’t. Fear, remorse, and the desire to be right with God are clear signs that the Holy Spirit is still working in your heart. Blasphemy against the Spirit isn’t a momentary fall; it is a final, obstinate decision against truth and love.
This passage invites us to examine our hearts with humility, to not harden ourselves against God’s correction, and to recognize the Spirit acting in the Church, in the sacraments, and in our own conversion. As long as there is an opening, no matter how small, God’s mercy remains infinite. Paul felt this, and so did his companions, Timothy and Titus.
The Good News Here is the Good News: whoever repents, whoever asks for forgiveness, whoever seeks God, has not committed this sin. A humble heart, even if it is weak, always keeps the door open to God’s forgiveness.
Let us ask today for the grace not to harden our hearts, but to let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit and to trust always in the infinite mercy of God.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro, C.M.F.Opening Prayer
God, our Father,
through your Son, Jesus Christ,
you brought healing to your people
and came to bind us to you
in a lasting covenant of love.
May we not only admire his saving power
but accept him in faith as our brother,
your Son, our Lord and Savior.
Make him the ground and meaning of our lives
and fill us with his Holy Spirit,
that we may build up among us
your kingdom and a community
of faith, hope, and love.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
David's victory over Goliath and the praise that the people give him become for Saul the reason to become very jealous of David. Saul's son Jonathan, a close friend of David, pleads for him and can temporarily refrain Saul from harming David.
Gospel Introduction
In the Gospel, Mark gives a summary of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. Yesterday, we heard how the Pharisees are blind to him and attack him on legal points; the crowds flock to him because of his healing power, not so much to be converted. The demons know who Jesus is, but, of course, they do not believe in him. Here, we have different attitudes, but no faith yet. This is why, perhaps, Mark imposes silence on the spirits. We offer this Eucharist together with Christ, our only Savior and Mediator, who always intercedes for us.
General Intercessions
– That today many find Jesus and deeply believe in him, we pray:
– That Jesus may touch the hearts of many and heal them from their selfishness, we pray:
– That all the Churches that claim Christ as their head may find unity in him, even if the road is long and difficult, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
we offer you the sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord,
and our only mediator.
May he intercede for us, your people,
and bind us forever to you
in a covenant of lasting friendship and fidelity,
that we may belong to you
as the people you have saved
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father, in this Eucharist
your Son, Jesus, has brought before you
our prayers, our good intentions,
and also our weakness, our hesitant faith.
Yet, we are sure you accept us
because of him, our only priest and mediator.
Make our faith and love grow,
that your Son may be the Lord of our lives,
your saving presence,
and we your faithful people,
now and for ever.
Blessing
Many have heard about Jesus and his message. Yet, some do not believe. The way we live should confirm our faith, even though faith is a free gift, a grace from God. May Almighty God give you faith, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
