Thursday, February 14, 2013

February 15, 2013


Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 337


Reading 1 from the Epistle of St. James
Jas 1:19-27

Know this, my dear brothers and sisters:
everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger
for anger does not accomplish
the righteousness of God.
Understand, it is not good to be quick tempered.  A quick temper does not achieve progress in sanctity.

Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess
and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
Therefore, put away all sinfulness and accept the Commandments that have been written in your soul that you may be saved.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Do the good deeds which God teaches.  Put into practice that which you have learned and don't fool yourself.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.
He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets
what he looked like.
Because a person who does not put into practice the lessons which God teaches is like a  man who looks in a mirror and forgets that he has ever seen his own face.

But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres,
and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts;
such a one shall be blessed in what he does.
But the one who sees the perfect law of freedom and continues in obedience to it is not forgetful, but dutiful and that one will rejoice in all which he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue
but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.
If anyone believes he is faithful but does not control his mouth, deceives his heart and his faith is vain.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Religious actions which are perfect in the eyes of God are this, to do good for the needy and keep oneself from sin.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

R. (1b) Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who will live with God in heaven?  The man who keeps himself from sin and does what is right.  The man who considers the truth and does not lie about his neighbor.

Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who will live with God in heaven?  The man who is peaceful with others and does not fight with his neighbor.  The man who is hated by the wicked.  The man who honors God's saints.

Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who will live with God in heaven?  The man who lends money without expecting anything in return.  The man who accepts no money in exchange for accusations against the innocent.  He who does good and keeps the Commandments will never be harmed.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark
Mk 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida,
people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
When Jesus arrived in Bethsaida, the people there brought to Him a blind man and asked that Jesus touch him.

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.
Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,
"Do you see anything?"
But Jesus took the blind man with him out of the town and put spittle in his eyes, laid His hands on the man and then asked him if he saw anything.

Looking up the man replied, "I see people looking like trees and walking."
The blind man replied that he could see things that looked like walking trees.

Then he laid hands on the man's eyes a second time and he saw clearly;
his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.
Then he sent him home and said, "Do not even go into the village."
Jesus touched him again and this time the man could see clearly.  Jesus then instructed the man to go home without going back into the town.

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