Reading 1 Sir 2:1-11 My son, when you come to serve the LORD,stand in justice and fear,prepare yourself for trials.Be sincere of heart and steadfast,incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,undisturbed in time of adversity.Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;thus will you be wise in all your ways.Accept whatever befalls you,when sorrowful, be steadfast,and in crushing misfortune be patient;For in fire gold and silver are tested,and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.Trust God and God will help you;trust in him, and he will direct your way;keep his fear and grow old therein.You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,turn not away lest you fall.You who fear the LORD, trust him,and your reward will not be lost.You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,for lasting joy and mercy.You who fear the LORD, love him,and your hearts will be enlightened.Study the generations long past and understand;has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?  has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;he forgives sins, he saves in time of troubleand he is a protector to all who seek him in truth. Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 R. (see 5)  Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.Trust in the LORD and do good,that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.Take delight in the LORD,and he will grant you your heart's requests.R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;their inheritance lasts forever.They are not put to shame in an evil time;in days of famine they have plenty. R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.Turn from evil and do good,that you may abide forever;For the LORD loves what is right,and forsakes not his faithful ones. R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.The salvation of the just is from the LORD;he is their refuge in time of distress.And the LORD helps them and delivers them;he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,because they take refuge in him. R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you. Alleluia Gal 6:14 R. Alleluia, alleluia.May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them,"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him,and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying,and they were afraid to question him.They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,he began to ask them,"What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent.For they had been discussing among themselves on the waywho was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,"If anyone wishes to be first,   he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,   and putting his arms around it, he said to them,"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;and whoever receives me,receives not me but the One who sent me." Readings for the Memorial of Saint Peter Damian, bishop and doctor of the Church - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Sir 1:1-10 All wisdom comes from the LORDand with him it remains forever, and is before all timeThe sand of the seashore, the drops of rain,the days of eternity: who can number these?Heaven's height, earth's breadth,the depths of the abyss: who can explore these?Before all things else wisdom was created;and prudent understanding, from eternity.The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdomand her ways are everlasting.To whom has wisdom's root been revealed?Who knows her subtleties?To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed?And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways?There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring,seated upon his throne:There is but one, Most Highall-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one,seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion.It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit,has seen her and taken note of her.He has poured her forth upon all his works,upon every living thing according to his bounty;he has lavished her upon his friends. Responsorial Psalm Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 R.(1a)  The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.The LORD is king, in splendor robed;robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. R.The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.And he has made the world firm,not to be moved.Your throne stands firm from of old;from everlasting you are, O LORD. R.The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:holiness befits your house,O LORD, for length of days. R.The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed deathand brought life to light through the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 9:14-29 As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, Johnand approached the other disciples,they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.Immediately on seeing him,the whole crowd was utterly amazed.They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”Someone from the crowd answered him,“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”He said to them in reply,“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” They brought the boy to him.And when he saw him,the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around   and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father,“How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood.It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”Jesus said to him,“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:come out of him and never enter him again!”Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.” - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.