Readings for Saturday 4th Week in Ordinary Time

Year 1

First Reading
Heb 13:15-17, 20-21

May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd, furnish you with all that is good.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Brothers and sisters:
Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,
   that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;
   God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

Obey your leaders and defer to them,
   for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,
that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,
   for that would be of no advantage to you.

May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead
   the great shepherd of the sheep
   by the Blood of the eternal covenant,
   furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.
May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ,
   to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. :

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
   In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
   he refreshes my soul.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
   I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
   that give me courage.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me
   in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
   all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
   for years to come.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Year 2

First Reading
1 Kgs 3:4-13

Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people.

A reading from the first Book of Kings

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 heart
   to 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 understanding
   that 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. :

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 declare
   all 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.


Gospel Acclamation
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

They were like sheep without a shepherd.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus
   and 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 towns
   and 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.

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.


Homilies / Gospel Reflections







3 comments

Leave a Reply