Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (II)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – James 1.19-27

So, then, my beloved
brothers and sisters,
let every human be swift to hear,
slow to speak, and slow to anger;
for the anger of man
does not produce
the righteousness of God.
Therefore, putting away
all filthiness and overflowing wickedness,
receive with humility the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word,
and not only hearers,
deluding your own selves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word
but not a doer,
they are like a man
looking at his natural face in a mirror;
for he sees himself, and goes away,
and immediately forgets
what sort he is.
But they who look into
the perfect law of freedom,
and continue,
not as a hearer who forgets,
but as a doer of the work,
this one will be blessed in what they do.

If anyone among you thinks
themself to be religious
while they do not bridle their tongue,
deceiving their heart,
this one’s religion is worthless.
Pure religion,
undefiled before our God and Father,
is this:
to visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction,
and to keep oneself
unstained by the world.

Responsorial – Psalm 15.2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5; Resp. 1b

R. Lord, who shall live on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right,
and speaks truth in his heart;
and does not slander with his tongue,

R. Lord, who shall live on your holy hill?

He who does no evil to his friend,
nor casts slurs against his fellow human;
in whose eyes a vile man is despised,
but who honors those who fear the Lord.

R. Lord, who shall live on your holy hill?

He who does not lend out his money for usury,
nor take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be shaken.

R. Lord, who shall live on your holy hill?

Gospel – Mark 8.22-26

Jesus and his disciples
came to Bethsaida.
They brought a blind man to him,
and begged him to touch him.
He took hold of the blind man
by the hand
and brought him
out of the village.
When he had spit on his eyes
and laid his hands on him,
he asked him if he saw anything.
He looked up, and said,
“I see humans;
that are as trees that I see walking.”
Again he laid his hands on his eyes.
He looked intently,
and was restored,
and saw everyone clearly.
He sent him away to his house, saying,
“Do not enter into the village,
nor tell anyone in the village.”