Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Reading 1 - Sirach 17.1-15

The Lord created man from the earth, and he returned him to it again.
He endowed them with independent strength, and made them according to his image,
Limited days of life he gives him, with power over all things else on earth.
and put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and birds.
He gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, ears, and a heart for understanding.
He filled them with the knowledge and understanding.
He created in them knowledge of the spirit.
With wisdom he fills their heart, and showed them good and evil.
He set his eye upon their hearts, that he might show them the greatness of his works.
He gave it to them to glory in his marvelous acts forever,
that they might declare his works with understanding, and the elect shall praise his holy name.
Besides this he gave them knowledge, and the law of life for a heritage.
He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his judgments.
Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice.
And he said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness”,
and he gave every man a commandment concerning his neighbor.
Their ways are ever before him, and shall not be hid from his eyes.
In the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people,
but Israel is the Lord's portion.
All their works are as the sun before him,
and his eyes are continually upon their ways.

Responsorial – Psalm 103.13-14, 15-16, 17-18 Resp. 17

R. The Lord’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him.

Like a father has compassion on his children,
so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows how we are made.
He remembers that we are dust.

R. The Lord’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him.

As for man, his days are like grass.
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone.
Its place remembers it no more.

R. The Lord’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him.

But the Lord’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him,
his righteousness to children’s children;
to those who keep his covenant,
to those who remember to obey his precepts.

R. The Lord’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him.

Gospel – Mark 10.13-16

They were bringing little children to him, that he should touch them,
but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them,
“Allow the little children to come to me! Do not forbid them!
For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen I say to you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child,
will in no way enter into it.”
He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Sirach 6.5-17

A pleasant voice multiplies friends and appeases enemies,
and a gracious tongue multiplies greetings.
Let those who are at peace with you be many, but let your confidants be one in a thousand.
When you gain a friend, gain him through testing, and do not trust him hastily.
For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience,
but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
And there is a friend who changes into an enemy, and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace.
And there is a friend who is a table companion, but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
In your prosperity he will make himself your equal, and be bold with your servants,
but if you are brought low he will turn against you, and will hide himself from your presence.
Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends.
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he that has found one has found a treasure.
There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence.
A faithful friend is an elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find him.
Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his friend also.

Responsorial – Psalm 119.12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35 Resp. 35a

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

Blessed are you, O Lord.
Teach me your statutes.

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

I will delight myself in your statutes.
I will not forget your word.

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

Open my eyes,
that I may see wonders of your law.

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

Let me understand the teaching of your precepts!
Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law.
Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

Direct me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in them.

R. Lord, guide me on the path of your commandments.

Gospel – Mark 10.1-12

Jesus came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan.
Crowds came together to him again.
As he usually did, he was again teaching them.

Pharisees came to him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his woman?”
He answered, “What did Moses command you?”
They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”
But Jesus said to them,
“For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a human will leave his father and mother, and will join to his woman,
and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
What therefore God has joined together, no human may separate.”

In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.
He said to them, “Whoever divorces his woman, and marries another,
commits adultery against her.
If a woman divorces her man, and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Sirach 5.1-8

Do not set your heart on your wealth, nor say, “I have enough.”
Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.
Do not say, “Who will have power over me?”
or, “Who will subdue me for my deeds?”
for the Lord will surely punish you.
Do not say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” for the Lord is slow to anger.
Do not be so confident of atonement that you add sin to sin.
Do not say, “His mercy is great, he will forgive the multitude of my sins,”
for both mercy and wrath are with him, and his anger rests on sinners.
Do not delay to turn to the Lord, nor postpone it from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will go forth,
and at the time of punishment you will perish.
Do not depend on dishonest wealth, for it will not benefit you in the day of calamity. 

Responsorial – Psalm 1.1-2, 3, 4+6 Resp. 40.5a

R. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.

Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand on the sinners’ path,
nor sit in the scoffers’ seat,
but whose delight is in the Lord’s law.
On his law he meditates day and night.

R. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.

He will be like a tree
planted by the streams of water,
that produces its fruit in its season,
whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does shall prosper.

R. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.

The wicked are not so,
but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
For the Lord watches the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked shall perish.

R. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.

Gospel – Mark 9.41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:
For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink, because you are Christ’s,
amen I tell you, they will certainly not lose their reward.
Whoever ensnares one of these little ones who believe in me,
it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea
with a millstone hung around his neck.
If your hand ensnares you, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed,
rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.
If your foot ensnares you, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life lame,
rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna.
If your eye ensnares you, pluck it out.
It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye,
rather than with two eyes to be cast into Gehenna
‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
For everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is beautiful, but if the salt has lost its saltiness,
how will you make it salty again?
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Sirach 4.11-19

Wisdom exalts her sons and gives help to those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life, and those who seek her early will be filled with joy.
Whoever holds her fast will obtain glory, and the Lord will bless the place she enters.
Those who serve her will minister to the Holy One;
the Lord loves those who love her.
He obeys her will judge the nations, and whoever gives heed to her will dwell secure.
If they have faith in her, they will obtain her,
and their descendants will remain in possession of her.
For at first she will walk with him on tortuous paths,
she will bring fear and cowardice upon him,
and will torment him by her discipline
until she trusts him and tests him with her laws.
Then she will come straight back to him and gladden him,
and will reveal her secrets to him.
If he goes astray she will forsake him, and hand him over to his ruin.

Responsorial – Psalm 119.165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175 Resp. 165a

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

Those who love your law have great peace.
Nothing causes them to stumble.

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies,
for all my ways are before you.

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

Let my lips utter praise,
for you teach me your statutes.

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

Let my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commandments are righteousness.

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

I have longed for your salvation, O Lord.
Your law is my delight.

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

My soul shall live and shall praise thee:
and your decrees shall help me.

R. O Lord, those who love your law have great peace.

Gospel – Mark 9.38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,
and we forbade him, because he does not follow us.”
But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him,
for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name,
and be able at the same time to speak evil of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Sirach 2.1-11

My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord,
stand in justice and fear and prepare yourself for trials.
Set your heart right and be steadfast.
Incline your ear and receive the word of understanding.
Do not be hasty in time of calamity.
Wait for God and cling to him and do not depart,
that you may be honored at the end of your life.

Accept whatever befalls you,
when sorrowful, be steadfast,
and in changes that humble you be patient.
For gold and silver are tested in the fire,
and worthy men in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust in him, and he will help you;
make your ways straight, and hope in him.
keep his fear and grow old therein.

You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail;
you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy.
Consider the ancient generations and see:
who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?
Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken?
Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked?
For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction.
He is a protector to all who seek him in truth.

Responsorial – Psalm 37.3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 Resp. 5ac

R. Commit your way to the Lord, and he will act.

Trust in the Lord, and do good.
Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

R. Commit your way to the Lord, and he will act.

The Lord knows the days of the perfect.
Their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil.
In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

Depart from evil, and do good.
Live securely forever.
For the Lord loves justice,
and does not forsake his saints.

R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord.
He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The Lord helps them, and rescues them.
He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them,
Because they have taken refuge in him.

R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

Gospel – Mark 9.30-37

Jesus and his disciples went away from there and passed through Galilee.
He did not want anyone to know it.
For he was teaching his disciples and said to them,
“The Son of Human is being handed over into the hands of humans,
and they will kill him,
and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.”

They did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them,
“What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way
about who was the greatest.
He sat down, and called the Twelve; and he said to them,
“If anyone wants to be first, they shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
He took an infant and stood him in their midst.
Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one such infant in my name,
receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (I)

Official Translation

Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 – Sirach 1.1-10

All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him forever, and is before all time.
The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity—who can count them?
The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, the depths of the abyss—who can search them out?
Wisdom was created before all things, and prudent understanding from eternity.
The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom
and her ways are everlasting.
The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?
Her clever devices—who knows them?
To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed?
And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways?
There is One who is wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne.
There is but one, Most High
all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one,
seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion.
The Lord himself created wisdom; he saw her and apportioned her,
he poured her out upon all his works.
She dwells with all flesh according to his gift,
and he supplied her to those who love him.

Responsorial – Psalm 93.1ab, 1cd-2, 5 Resp. 1a

R. The Lord reigns! He is clothed with majesty!

The Lord reigns! He is clothed with majesty!
The Lord is robed and armed with strength.

R. The Lord reigns! He is clothed with majesty!

The world he has established.
It cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from long ago.
You are from everlasting, O Lord.

R. The Lord reigns! He is clothed with majesty!

Your statutes are very trustworthy.
Holiness adorns your house,
O Lord, forever more.

R. The Lord reigns! He is clothed with majesty!

Gospel – Mark 9.14-29

As Jesus came down the mountain
with Peter, James, and John,
coming to the other disciples,
he saw a great crowd around them,
and scribes questioning them.
Immediately all the crowd,
when they saw him, were greatly amazed,
and running to him greeted him.

He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?”
One of the crowd answered,
“Teacher, I brought to you my son,
who has a mute spirit;
and wherever it seizes him,
it throws him down,
and he foams at the mouth,
and grinds his teeth, and wastes away.
I asked your disciples to cast it out,
but they were not able.”

He answered him,
“Unbelieving kind,
how long shall I be with you?
How long shall I bear with you?
Bring him to me.”
They brought him to him,
and when he saw him,
immediately the spirit convulsed him,
and he fell on the ground,
wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
He asked his father,
“How long has it been since this has come to him?”
He said, “From childhood.
Often it has cast him both
into the fire and into the water,
to destroy him.
But if you are able to do anything,
have compassion on us, and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?!’Everything is possible by faith.”
Immediately the father of the child, crying, said,
“I do believe. Help my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw
that a crowd was gathering,
he rebuked the unclean spirit,
saying to him,
“You mute and deaf spirit,
I command you, come out of him,
and never enter him again!”
Crying, and heaving greatly,
it came out.
The boy became like one dead;
so much that most of them said
that he had died.
But Jesus took his hand
and raised him up, and he got up.
When he had come into the house,
his disciples asked him by himself,
“Why were we not able to cast it out?”
He said to them,
“That kind cannot come out at all
except by prayer and fasting.”