First Reading

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 (JB)

A reading from the book of Wisdom

Let us condemn him to a most shameful death.

The godless say to themselves,

‘Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us

and opposes our way of life,

reproaches us for our breaches of the law

and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing.

Let us see if what he says is true,

let us observe what kind of end he himself will have.

If the virtuous man is God’s son, God will take his part

and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.

Let us test him with cruelty and with torture,

and thus explore this gentleness of his

and put his endurance to the proof.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death

since he will be looked after – we have his word for it.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The godless say.

“Let us lie in wait for the righteous one,

who makes life inconvenient to us and opposes our actions;

who reproaches us for sins against the law,

and accuses us of sins against our training.

“Let us see if his words are true,

and let us test what will happen at the end of his life;

for if the righteous one is God’s child, God will help him,

and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.

“Let us test him with insult and torture,

so that we may find out how gentle he is,

and make trial of his forbearance.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death,

for; according to what he says, he will be protected.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 53:3-6, 8 (JB)

R. The Lord upholds my life.

O God, save me by your name;

by your power, uphold my cause.

O God, hear my prayer;

listen to the words of my mouth. R.

For proud men have risen against me,

ruthless men seek my life.

They have no regard for God. R.

But I have God for my help.

The Lord upholds my life.

I will sacrifice to you with willing heart

and praise your name for it is good. R.

Second Reading

James 3:16 – 4:3 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St James

Justice is the harvest of peacemakers from seeds sown in a spirit of peace.

Wherever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony, and wicked things of every kind being done; whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it also makes for peace, and is kindly and considerate; it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness.

Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. Why you don’t have what you want is because you don’t pray for it; when you do pray and don’t get it, it is because you have not prayed properly, you have prayed for something to indulge your own desires.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

James 3:16 – 4:3 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of James

Where there is envy and selfish ambition,

there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first pure,

then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield,

full of mercy and good fruits,

without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace

for those who make peace.

Those conflicts and disputes among you,

where do they come from?

Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?

You want something and do not have it;

so you commit murder.

And you covet something and cannot obtain it;

so you engage in disputes and conflicts.

You do not have, because you do not ask.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly,

in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

cf 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

God has called us with the gospel

to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

2 Thessalonians 2:14 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

God has called us with the gospel,

to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 9:30-37 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of humanity … All who wish to be first must make themselves the servants of all.

After leaving the mountain Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 9:30-37 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

After leaving the mountain

Jesus and his disciples went on from there

and passed through Galilee.

He did not want anyone to know it;

for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them,

“The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands,

and they will kill him,

and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”

But they did not understand what he was saying

and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum;

and when he was in the house Jesus asked them,

“What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they were silent,

for on the way they had argued with one another

who was the greatest.

Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said to them,

“Whoever wants to be first

must be last of all and servant of all.”

Then he took a little child and put it among them;

and taking it in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me,

and whoever welcomes me

welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.