Readings for the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki, Priest and Martyr, and his Companions, Martyrs Reading I Sirach 47:2-11 Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings,            so was David in Israel.He made sport of lions as though they were kids,            and of bears, like lambs of the flock.As a youth he slew the giant            and wiped out the people’s disgrace,When his hand let fly the slingstone            that crushed the pride of Goliath.Since he called upon the Most High God,             who gave strength to his right armTo defeat the skilled warrior            and raise up the might of his people,Therefore the women sang his praises,            and ascribed to him tens of thousands            and praised him when they blessed the Lord.When he assumed the royal crown, he battled            and subdued the enemy on every side.He destroyed the hostile Philistines            and shattered their power till our own day.With his every deed he offered thanks             to God Most High, in words of praise.With his whole being he loved his Maker            and daily had his praises sung;            He set singers before the altar and by their voices                        he made sweet melodies,He added beauty to the feasts            and solemnized the seasons of each yearSo that when the Holy Name was praised,            before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.The Lord forgave him his sins            and exalted his strength forever;He conferred on him the rights of royalty            and established his throne in Israel. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 18:31, 47 and 50, 51 R.        (see 47b)  Blessed be God my salvation!God’s way is unerring,            the promise of the LORD is fire-tried;            he is a shield to all who take refuge in him.R.        Blessed be God my salvation!The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!            Extolled be God my savior.Therefore will I proclaim you, O LORD, among the nations,            and I will sing praise to your name.R.        Blessed be God my salvation!You who gave great victories to your king            and showed kindness to your anointed,            to David and his posterity forever.R.        Blessed be God my salvation! Alleluia See Luke 8:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart,and yield a harvest through perseverance.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 6:14-29 King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,and people were saying,“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”But when Herod learned of it, he said,“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prisonon account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.John had said to Herod,“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”Herodias harbored a grudge against himand wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,and kept him in custody.When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,yet he liked to listen to him.Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,and the leading men of Galilee.His own daughter came in and performed a dancethat delighted Herod and his guests.The king said to the girl,“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her,“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,even to half of my kingdom.”She went out and said to her mother,“What shall I ask for?”Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,“I want you to give me at once on a platterthe head of John the Baptist.”The king was deeply distressed,but because of his oaths and the guestshe did not wish to break his word to her.So he promptly dispatched an executionerwith orders to bring back his head.He went off and beheaded him in the prison.He brought in the head on a platterand gave it to the girl.The girl in turn gave it to her mother.When his disciples heard about it,they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. - - - 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 Agatha, Virgin and Martyr Reading 1 1 Kings 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 Mark 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia.  Gospel Mark 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.

Reading 1 2 Samuel 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 Psalm 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 John 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia.  Gospel Mark 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.

Reading 1 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3 Absalom unexpectedly came up against David's servants.He was mounted on a mule,and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth,his hair caught fast in the tree.He hung between heaven and earthwhile the mule he had been riding ran off.Someone saw this and reported to Joabthat he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.And taking three pikes in hand,he thrust for the heart of Absalom,still hanging from the tree alive.Now David was sitting between the two gates,and a lookout went up to the roof of the gate above the city wall,where he looked about and saw a man running all alone.The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said,"If he is alone, he has good news to report."The king said, "Step aside and remain in attendance here."So he stepped aside and remained there.When the Cushite messenger came in, he said,"Let my lord the king receive the good newsthat this day the LORD has taken your part,freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you."But the king asked the Cushite, "Is young Absalom safe?"The Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the kingand all who rebel against you with evil intentbe as that young man!"The king was shaken,and went up to the room over the city gate to weep.He said as he wept,"My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!If only I had died instead of you,Absalom, my son, my son!"Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;and that day's victory was turned into mourning for the whole armywhen they heard that the king was grieving for his son.  Responsorial Psalm Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. (1a) Listen, Lord, and answer me.Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,for I am afflicted and poor.Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God.R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.Have mercy on me, O Lord,for to you I call all the day.Gladden the soul of your servant,for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.Hearken, O LORD, to my prayerand attend to the sound of my pleading.R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.  Alleluia Matthew 8:17 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Christ took away our infirmitiesand bore our diseases.R. Alleluia, alleluia.  Gospel Mark 5:21-43 When Jesus had crossed again in the boatto the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,"My daughter is at the point of death.Please, come lay your hands on herthat she may get well and live."He went off with himand a large crowd followed him.There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctorsand had spent all that she had.Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowdand touched his cloak.She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."Immediately her flow of blood dried up.She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"But his disciples said to him,"You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,and yet you ask, Who touched me?"And he looked around to see who had done it.The woman, realizing what had happened to her,approached in fear and trembling.She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."While he was still speaking,people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?" Disregarding the message that was reported,Jesus said to the synagogue official,"Do not be afraid; just have faith."He did not allow anyone to accompany him insideexcept Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,he caught sight of a commotion,people weeping and wailing loudly.So he went in and said to them,"Why this commotion and weeping?The child is not dead but asleep."And they ridiculed him.Then he put them all out.He took along the child's father and motherand those who were with himand entered the room where the child was.He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.At that they were utterly astounded.He gave strict orders that no one should know thisand said that she should be given something to eat.  Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, BishopReadings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Blaise, 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.