Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Hebrews 7.25—8.6

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

For such a high priest was fitting for us:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
He does not need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily,
first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people.
He did this once for all, when he offered up himself.
For the law appoints humans as high priests who have weakness,
but the word of the oath which came after the law
appoints a Son, perfected forever.

The heading of what we are saying:
We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices.
Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all,
for there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;
who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things,
even as Moses was informed by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said,
“See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”
But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry,
inasmuch as he is also the mediator of a better covenant,
which has been enacted on better promises.

Responsorial – Psalm 40.7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17 Resp. 8a+9a

R. Behold, I have come; I delight to do your will, my God.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire.
You have opened my ears.
You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come.

R. Behold, I have come; I delight to do your will, my God.

It is written about me in the scroll:
“I delight to do your will, my God.
Yes, your law is within my heart.”

R. Behold, I have come; I delight to do your will, my God.

I have proclaimed glad news
of righteousness in the great assembly.
Behold, you know I will not seal my lips, O Lord.

R. Behold, I have come; I delight to do your will, my God.

Let all those who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you.
May those who love your salvation
say continually, “Let the Lord be exalted!”

R. Behold, I have come; I delight to do your will, my God.

Gospel - Mark 3.7-12

Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples,
and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan,
and those from around Tyre and Sidon.
A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
He told his disciples that a boat should stay near him
because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him.
For he had healed many,
so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him,
fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!”
He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.