Readings of the day

Mass readings

1. First reading 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30

   ²²Solomon stood before the LORD’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; ²³and he said, “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keeps covenant and loving kindness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart; ²⁷But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built! ²⁸Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and for his supplication, LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you today; ²⁹that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place. ³⁰Listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30

2. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 84:3, 4, 5, 10, 11

   ²My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. ³Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, LORD of Armies, my King, and my God. ⁴Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah. ⁹Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. ¹⁰For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 84:3, 4, 5, 10, 11

3. Gospel acclamation Psalms 119:36, 29b

4. Gospel Mark 7:1-13

   ¹Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. ²Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. ³(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.) ⁵The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” ⁶He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ⁸“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.” ⁹He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ¹¹But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,”’” that is to say, given to God, ¹²“then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Mark 7:1-13