First Reading

The Book of Proverbs (Prv 21: 1-6, 10-13)

Various maxims for an upright life.

Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.

To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart –
the tillage of the wicked is sin.

The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.

Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.

The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.

When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 119: 1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.

Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.

Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.

And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke (Lk 8: 19-21)

My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told,

“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”

He said to them in reply,

“My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.

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First Reading

The Book of Proverbs (Prv 3: 27-34)

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked.

Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim
when it is in your power to do it for him.
Say not to your neighbor,

“Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give,”

when you can give at once.

Plot no evil against your neighbor,
against one who lives at peace with you.
Quarrel not with a man without cause,
with one who has done you no harm.

Envy not the lawless man
and choose none of his ways:
To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination,
but with the upright is his friendship.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern,
but to the humble he shows kindness.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 15: 2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.

Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.

Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke (Lk 8: 16-18)

Place the lamp on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.

Jesus said to the crowd:

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.

First Reading

The Book of Wisdom (Wis 2: 12, 17-20)

Let us condemn him to a shameful death.

The wicked say:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.

— The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 54: 3-4, 5, 6 and 8

The Lord upholds my life.

O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.

For the haughty men have risen up against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes.

Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.

Second Reading

Letter of Saint James (Jas 3: 16 — 4: 3)

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.

Where do the wars
and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions
that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

— The word of the Lord.

Gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark (Mk 9: 30-37)

The Son of Man is to be handed... If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the servant of all.

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,

“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”

But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,

“What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,

“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”

— The Gospel of the Lord.