Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – 1 Kings 8.22-23, 27-30

Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord
in the presence of all the assembly of Israel,
and spread out his hands toward heaven;
and he said, “Lord, God of Israel,
there is no God like you,
in heaven above, or on earth beneath;
who keep covenant and loving kindness with
your servants who walk before you with all their heart;

Will God indeed dwell on the earth?
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens
cannot contain you;
how much less this house that I have built!
Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant,
and for his supplication, Lord my God.
Listen to the cry and to the prayer
which your servant prays before you this day;
that your eyes may be open
toward this house night and day,
even toward the place of which you have said,
‘My name shall be there;’
to listen to the prayer which your servant s
hall pray toward this place.

Listen to the supplication of your servant,
and of your people Israel,
when they shall pray toward this place.
Yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place;
and when you hear, forgive.

Responsorial – Psalm 84.3, 4, 5+10, 11 Resp. 2

R. How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts!

My soul longs, and even faints
for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

R. How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts!

Lo, the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young,
near your altars, Lord of Hosts,
my King, and my God.

R. How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts!

Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
They are always praising you.
Behold, God our shield,
look at the face of your anointed.

R. How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts!

For a day in your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere
I would rather live in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

R. How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts!

Gospel – Mark 7.1-13

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes
gathered together around Jesus,
having come from Jerusalem.
When they saw some of his disciples
eating bread with unclean,
that is, unwashed, hands,
they were offended.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews,
do not eat unless they wash their hands and forearms,
holding to the tradition of the elders.
They do not eat when they come from the marketplace,
unless they bathe themselves,
and there are many other things,
which they have received that they hold to:
washing of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and beds.

The Pharisees and the scribes asked him,
“Why do your disciples not walk
according to the tradition of the elders,
but eat their bread with unclean hands?”
He answered them,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites,
as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of humans.'
“For you set aside the commandment of God,
and hold tightly to the tradition of humans."
He said to them, “Full well do you reject
the commandment of God,
that you may keep your tradition.
For Moses said,
‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and,
‘He who curses his father or mother,
let him be put to death.’
But you say,
‘If a human tells father or mother,
“Whatever benefit you might have received from me is
qorban" (which means 'given to God')
then you allow them to do nothing for father or mother,
making void the word of God by your tradition,
which you have handed down.
You do many things like this.”