FIRST READING

He has been offered once to bear the sins of many, he will appear a second time to those who are eagerly waiting for him.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 9: 15.24-28)

Brethren: Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 98: 1 .2-3ab. 3cd-4.5-6

R/. O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders.

O sing a new song to the Lord,

for he has worked wonders.

His right hand and his holy arm

have brought salvation. R/.

The Lord has made known his salvation,

has shown his deliverance to the nations.

He has remembered his merciful love

and his truth for the house of Israel. R/.

R/. O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders.

All the ends of the earth

have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song,

and sing out your praise. R/.

Sing psalms to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn,

raise a shout before the King, the Lord. R/.

ALLELUIA 2 Timothy 1: 10

Alleluia. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“Satan is coming to an end.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3:22-30)

At that time: The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house. “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

After a vision which he had seen during a Mass, St Thomas Aquinas decided he would write no more because all he had written thus far appeared to be of little value compared to what he had seen. Jesus is supreme over all human endeavours, even more than what we can imagine. The customary sacrifice of an animal in Jewish worship is done repeatedly as a way of renewal. But Christ’s sacrifice does not need such renewal because it was done once and for all. Each time we participate at Mass, that supreme sacrifice is made present again. This is why we should always desire to participate at Mass.

FIRST READING

Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:1-11)

Brethren: if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affections and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Isaiah 12:2-3.4bcde.5-6 (R. 1de)

R/. Your anger turned away and you comforted me.

“Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord GOD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. R/.

“Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the nations,

proclaim that his name is exalted.” R/.

“Sing praises to the Lord,

for he has done gloriously;

let this be known in all the earth.

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” R/.

ALLELUIA 2 Corinthians 5: 19

Alleluia. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia

GOSPEL

He sells all that he has and buys that field.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 13:44-46)

At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

In the First Reading of today, we are taught that humility exalts a person while pride humiliates a person. Hence, God exalted Jesus above all else because of his humility and obedience. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that the ultimate goal is the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, everything we do should be geared towards attaining this heavenly kingdom. Today, as we celebrate the feast of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi who humbles himself and sought God through his austere life and mortification to attain the heavenly kingdom and the crown of glory, may his intercession make us humble Christians who sincerely and genuinely desire the kingdom of God.

FIRST READING

“You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 7: 1-3.15-17)

Brethren: Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The word of the Lord

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 110: 1.2.3.4 (R. 4cd)

R/. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The Lord’s revelation to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your foes

your footstool.” R/.

The Lord will send from Sion

your sceptre of power:

rule in the midst of your foes. R/.

R/. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

With you is princely rule

on the day of your power.

In holy splendour, from the womb

before the dawn,

I have begotten you. R/.

The Lord has sworn an oath

he will not change:

“You are a priest forever,

in the line of Melchizedek.” R/.

ALLELUIA Matthew 4:23

Alleluia. Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“Is it lawful on the sabbath to save life or to kill? ”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3: 1-6)

At that time: Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

After the controversy stories in the Gospel of Mark, the Pharisees and Herodians unite against Jesus (cf. Mark 3:6), echoing the words of Psalm 2:2, “The king of the earth brace themselves and the rulers together take their stand against the Lord and His Anointed.” Jesus’ only crime is His righteous deeds. He warns us that we too shall face such oppression and persecution (Matthew 24:9; John 16:2). But He reassures us not to worry because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). And you must believe Jesus when He says so. See for yourself that even His simple question silence them all (Mark 3:4). So shall He silence all who rise against you.

FIRST READING

We have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 6:10-20)

Brethren: God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realising the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The word of the Lord

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 111: 1bc-2.4-5.9 and 10c (R. 5b)

R/. The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.

Or: Alleluia.

I will praise the Lord with all my heart,

in the meeting of the just and the assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord,

to be pondered by all who delight in them. R/.

He has given us a memorial of his wonders.

The Lord is gracious and merciful.

He gives food to those who fear him;

keeps his covenant ever in mind. R/.

R/. The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.

Or: Alleluia.

He has sent redemption to his people,

and established his covenant forever.

Holy his name, to be feared.

His praise endures forever! R/.

ALLELUIA Ephesians 1:17-18

Alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:23-28)

It happened that one sabbath Jesus was going through the grain-fields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Gospel of the Lord

TODAY’S REFLECTION:

In God, nothing about us is forgotten, except our sins, through His mercy. This is why the Book of Hebrews tells us that our good efforts and deeds can never be forgotten. Our every good deed for God and His Church will be repaid. This is how God repaid Abraham, fulfilling the promises He had made him. It is not our past good deeds that gives our present blessings but the good deeds we have continued to do in perseverance. The good deeds of David that were sustained gave him and his followers the privilege to eat the meal of the High Priests. God can waive laws in order to see us saved. We in turn must not be inhumanly strict.

FIRST READING

“Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered,”

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 5 : 1- 10)

Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honour upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers‘ and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 110: 1.2.3.4 (R. 4cd)

R/. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The Lord’s revelation to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your foes your footstool.” R/.

The Lord will send from Sion

your scepter of power: rule in the midst of your foes. R/.

R/. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

With you is princely rule

on the day of your power.

In holy splendour, from the womb

before the dawn, I have begotten you. R/.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change:

“You are a priest forever,

in the line of Melchizedek.” R/.

ALLELUIA Hebrews 4: 12

Alleluia. The word of the Lord is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“The bridegroom is with them.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:18-22)

At that time: John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

The first reading of today teaches us that obedience to God’s word brings about acceptance but disobedience brings about rejection. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that the presence of the bridegroom (Jesus) is a cause for rejoicing and celebration. However, when the Lord has ascended and the Church, experiencing the descent of the Holy Spirit and carrying out its mandatory missionary work, will of course need to fast for the graces needed for the tasks ahead. We should therefore pray and fast as Christians to be obedient to God’s word always.

FIRST READING

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.”

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4: 12-16)

Brethren: The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19:8.9:10.15 (R. John 6:63c)

R/. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect;

it revives the soul.

The decrees of the Lord are steadfast;

they give wisdom to the simple. R/.

The precepts of the Lord are right;

they gladder the heart.

The command of the Lord is clear;

it gives light to the eyes. R/.

R/. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

abiding forever.

The judgements of the Lord are true;

they are, all of them, just. R/.

May the spoken words of my mouth,

the thoughts of my heart,

win favour in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer! R/.

ALLELUIA Luke 4:18

Alleluia. The Lord has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:13- 17)

At that time: Jesus went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with the tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Imagine yourself a sinner like Levi; Yet Jesus broke the protocols and gave himself up on the wood of the cross just to save you. It is an unmerited favour. In response to that, Levi leaves everything to follow Jesus (Mark 2:14). Moreover, he draws people like him also to follow Jesus (Mark 2:15). We are all beneficiaries of the unmerited favour. He took our nature and had a share in our weaknesses that he might help us out of them as a wounded healer (Heb. 4:12-16). St John tells us that, having been healed, we too must help others to become healed (1 John 3:16). We cannot do this well if we look down on others as the teachers of law and the Pharisees did (Mark 2:16).