Readings for Wednesday 5th Week in Ordinary Time

Year 1

First Reading
Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17

The LORD God planted a garden in Eden and placed there the man whom he had formed.

A reading from the Book of Genesis

At the time when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens—
   while as yet there was no field shrub on earth
   and no grass of the field had sprouted,
   for the LORD God had sent no rain upon the earth
   and there was no man to till the soil,
   but a stream was welling up out of the earth
   and was watering all the surface of the ground
   the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
   and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
   and so man became a living being.

Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
   and he placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
   that were delightful to look at and good for food,
   with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
   and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The LORD God then took the man
   and settled him in the garden of Eden,
   to cultivate and care for it.
The LORD God gave man this order:
   “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden
   except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
From that tree you shall not eat;
   the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.”


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30

R. :

R. (1a) O bless the Lord, my soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
   O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
   robed in light as with a cloak.

R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

All creatures look to you
   to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
   when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

If you take away their breath, they perish
   and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
   and you renew the face of the earth.

R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Year 2

First Reading
1 Kgs 10:1-10

The Queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon.

A reading from the first Book of Kings

The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame,
   came to test him with subtle questions.
She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue,
   and with camels bearing spices,
   a large amount of gold, and precious stones.
She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject
   in which she was interested.
King Solomon explained everything she asked about,
   and there remained nothing hidden from him
   that he could not explain to her.

When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom,
   the palace he had built, the food at his table,
   the seating of his ministers, the attendance and garb of his waiters,
   his banquet service,
   and the burnt offerings he offered in the temple of the LORD,
   she was breathless.
“The report I heard in my country
   about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king.
“Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes,
   I have discovered that they were not telling me the half.
Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard.
Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours,
   who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom.
Blessed be the LORD, your God,
   whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel.
In his enduring love for Israel,
   the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice.”
Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents,
   a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones.
Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices
   as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.


Responsorial Psalm
37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40

R. :

R. (30a) The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

Commit to the LORD your way;
   trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
   bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom
   and his tongue utters what is right.
The law of his God is in his heart,
   and his steps do not falter.

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
   he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
   he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
   because they take refuge in him.

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.


Gospel Acclamation
See Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Your word, O Lord, is truth:
consecrate us in the truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Mk 7:14-23

What comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,
   “Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
   but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd
   his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them,
   “Are even you likewise without understanding?
Do you not realize that everything
   that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
   since it enters not the heart but the stomach
   and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
   come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
   adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
   licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”

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




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