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The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for January 2025 is made clearest by Catholic Doctrine. The best take-away from the Sunday Readings is Catholic Doctrine that clarifies those Readings.
God wants Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium to be taken together (CCC 84-85[1]). Scripture and Tradition are the primary ways God has revealed Himself. They need to be interpreted. “The task of interpreting the Word of God [in Scripture and Tradition] has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him” (CCC 100).
Yet in order to be a good Catholic – to have the Faith and to live the Faith that God wants – we do not have to agree with every word from a pope or bishop. To be a good Catholic is to be obedient to Catholic Doctrine and church discipline. Catholic doctrines are the essentially unchangeable clarifications of Revelation and Faith that only the Magisterium has the God-given authority to make and that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic. Doctrine may never be contradicted, even by a pope or bishop. Discipline is the body of church rules, such as the Code of Canon Law and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The Magisterium is free to change discipline. A change of discipline may never contradict doctrine. Every other communication on any topic from a pope or bishop is his personal opinion, which Catholics are bound to seriously consider but with which Catholics are not obligated to agree.
Continued below.
catholicstand.com
God wants Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium to be taken together (CCC 84-85[1]). Scripture and Tradition are the primary ways God has revealed Himself. They need to be interpreted. “The task of interpreting the Word of God [in Scripture and Tradition] has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him” (CCC 100).
Yet in order to be a good Catholic – to have the Faith and to live the Faith that God wants – we do not have to agree with every word from a pope or bishop. To be a good Catholic is to be obedient to Catholic Doctrine and church discipline. Catholic doctrines are the essentially unchangeable clarifications of Revelation and Faith that only the Magisterium has the God-given authority to make and that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic. Doctrine may never be contradicted, even by a pope or bishop. Discipline is the body of church rules, such as the Code of Canon Law and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The Magisterium is free to change discipline. A change of discipline may never contradict doctrine. Every other communication on any topic from a pope or bishop is his personal opinion, which Catholics are bound to seriously consider but with which Catholics are not obligated to agree.
Continued below.

Catholic Doctrine and the Sunday Readings for January 2025 - Catholic Stand
The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for January 2025 is made clearest by Catholic Doctrine. The best take-away from the Sunday Readings is Catholic Doctrine that clarifies those Readings. God wants Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium to be taken together (CCC 84-85[1])...
