Thursday – Second Week in OT (I)

FIRST READING Hebrews 7:25-8:6

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Brethren: Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God
through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was
indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained,
separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like
those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those
of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the
law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath,
which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who
is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the
holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. For every high priest is
appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to
have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all,
since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy
and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent,
he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the
pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” But as it is, Christ has obtained a
ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates
is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17 (R. see 8a 9a)

℟. See, I have come, Lord, to do your will.

You delight not in sacrifice and offerings,

but in an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim.
Then I said, “See, I have come.” ℟.
In the scroll of the book it stands written of me:
“I delight to do your will, O my God;
your instruction lies deep within me.” ℟.

Your justice I have proclaimed

in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed;
you know it, O Lord. ℟.

O let there be rejoicing and gladness

for all who seek you.
Let them ever say, “The Lord is great,”
who long for your salvation. ℟.

ALLELUIA See 2 Timothy 1:10

℣. Alleluia. ℟. Alleluia.
℣. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
℟. Alleluia.

GOSPEL Mark 3:7-12

✠. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

At that time: Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd
followed from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the
Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he
was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for
him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all
who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean
spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of
God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

The Gospel of the Lord.