Reading 1 1 Kgs 3:4-13 Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,because that was the most renowned high place.Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings.In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”Solomon answered:“You have shown great favor to your servant, my father David,because he behaved faithfully toward you,with justice and an upright heart;and you have continued this great favor toward him, even today,seating a son of his on his throne.O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant,king to succeed my father David;but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heartto judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this–not for a long life for yourself,nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,but for understanding so that you may know what is right–I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understandingthat there has never been anyone like you up to now,and after you there will come no one to equal you.In addition, I give you what you have not asked for,such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.” Responsorial Psalm PS 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 R. (12b) Lord, teach me your statutes.How shall a young man be faultless in his way?By keeping to your words.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.With all my heart I seek you;let me not stray from your commands.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.Within my heart I treasure your promise,that I may not sin against you.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.Blessed are you, O LORD;teach me your statutes.R. Lord, teach me your statutes.With my lips I declareall the ordinances of your mouth. R. Lord, teach me your statutes.In the way of your decrees I rejoice,as much as in all riches.R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 6:30-34 The Apostles gathered together with Jesusand reported all they had done and taught.He said to them,“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers,and they had no opportunity even to eat.So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.They hastened there on foot from all the townsand arrived at the place before them.When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,his heart was moved with pity for them,for they were like sheep without a shepherd;and he began to teach them many things. Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, bishopReadings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr - - - 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 Mal 3:1-4 Thus says the Lord GOD:Lo, I am sending my messengerto prepare the way before me;And suddenly there will come to the templethe LORD whom you seek,And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.But who will endure the day of his coming?And who can stand when he appears?For he is like the refiner’s fire,or like the fuller’s lye.He will sit refining and purifying silver,and he will purify the sons of Levi,Refining them like gold or like silverthat they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalemwill please the LORD,as in the days of old, as in years gone by. Responsorial Psalm PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10 R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!Lift up, O gates, your lintels;reach up, you ancient portals,that the king of glory may come in!R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!Who is this king of glory?The LORD, strong and mighty,the LORD, mighty in battle.R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!Lift up, O gates, your lintels;reach up, you ancient portals,that the king of glory may come in!R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!Who is this king of glory?The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord! Reading 2 Heb 2:14-18 Since the children share in blood and flesh,Jesus likewise shared in them,that through death he might destroy the onewho has the power of death, that is, the Devil,and free those who through fear of deathhad been subject to slavery all their life.Surely he did not help angelsbut rather the descendants of Abraham;therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sistersin every way,that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before Godto expiate the sins of the people.Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,he is able to help those who are being tested. Alleluia Lk 2:32 R. Alleluia, alleluia.A light of revelation to the Gentiles,and glory for your people Israel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 2:22-40 When the days were completed for their purificationaccording to the law of Moses,Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalemto present him to the Lord,just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,and to offer the sacrifice ofa pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout,awaiting the consolation of Israel,and the Holy Spirit was upon him.It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spiritthat he should not see deathbefore he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple;and when the parents brought in the child Jesusto perform the custom of the law in regard to him,he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and glory for your people Israel.”The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,“Behold, this child is destinedfor the fall and rise of many in Israel,and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”There was also a prophetess, Anna,the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.She was advanced in years,having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.She never left the temple,but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.And coming forward at that very time,she gave thanks to God and spoke about the childto all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.When they had fulfilled all the prescriptionsof the law of the Lord,they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;and the favor of God was upon him. Or LK 2:22-32 When the days were completed for their purificationaccording to the law of Moses,Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalemto present him to the Lord,just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,and to offer the sacrifice ofa pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout,awaiting the consolation of Israel,and the Holy Spirit was upon him.It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spiritthat he should not see deathbefore he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple;and when the parents brought in the child Jesusto perform the custom of the law in regard to him,he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and glory for your people Israel.” - - -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 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12 When the time of David's death drew near,he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:"I am going the way of all flesh.Take courage and be a man.Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his waysand observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decreesas they are written in the law of Moses,that you may succeed in whatever you do,wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfillthe promise he made on my behalf when he said,'If your sons so conduct themselvesthat they remain faithful to me with their whole heartand with their whole soul,you shall always have someone of your lineon the throne of Israel.'"David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.The length of David's reign over Israel was forty years:he reigned seven years in Hebronand thirty-three years in Jerusalem.Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,with his sovereignty firmly established. Responsorial Psalm 1 Chronicles 29:10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd R. (12b) Lord, you are exalted over all."Blessed may you be, O LORD,God of Israel our father,from eternity to eternity."R. Lord, you are exalted over all."Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,majesty, splendor, and glory."R. Lord, you are exalted over all."LORD, you are exalted over all.Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;you are exalted as head over all.Riches and honor are from you."R. Lord, you are exalted over all."In your hand are power and might;it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."R. Lord, you are exalted over all. Alleluia Mk 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 6:7-13 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by twoand gave them authority over unclean spirits.He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.He said to them,"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,leave there and shake the dust off your feetin testimony against them."So they went off and preached repentance.The Twelve drove out many demons,and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. - - -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.

Readings for the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priestReading 1 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17 King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him,"Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-shebaand register the people, that I may know their number."Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered:in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand.Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,and said to the LORD:"I have sinned grievously in what I have done.But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,for I have been very foolish."When David rose in the morning,the LORD had spoken to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying:"Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says:I offer you three alternatives;choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.'"Gad then went to David to inform him.He asked: "Do you want a three years' famine to come upon your land,or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you,or to have a three days' pestilence in your land?Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me."David answered Gad: "I am in very serious difficulty.Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful;but let me not fall by the hand of man."Thus David chose the pestilence.Now it was the time of the wheat harvestwhen the plague broke out among the people.The LORD then sent a pestilence over Israelfrom morning until the time appointed,and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died. But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,the LORD regretted the calamityand said to the angel causing the destruction among the people,"Enough now! Stay your hand."The angel of the LORD was then standingat the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.When David saw the angel who was striking the people,he said to the LORD: "It is I who have sinned;it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong.But these are sheep; what have they done?Punish me and my kindred." Responsorial Psalm PS 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 R. (see 5c) Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,whose sin is covered.Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,in whose spirit there is no guile.R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.Then I acknowledged my sin to you,my guilt I covered not.I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"and you took away the guilt of my sin.R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.For this shall every faithful man pray to youin time of stress.Though deep waters overflow,they shall not reach him.R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Alleluia JN 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel MK 6:1-6 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them,“A prophet is not without honor except in his native placeand among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.He was amazed at their lack of faith. - - -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.