1Sam 24:2-20; Mark 3

The Memorial of  Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr – Year II.
Readings on p. 743 and Antiphons on p. 1961 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.

Here is a wise virgin, from among the number of the prudent, who went forth with lighted lamp to meet Christ.

 

First Reading: 1 Samuel 24:2-20

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

In those days:
Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel
and went to seek David and his men
in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.
And he came to the sheepfolds by the way,
where there was a cave;
and Saul went in to relieve himself.
Now David and his men
were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
And the men of David said to him,
“Here is the day of which the Lord said to you,
‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand,
and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’”

Then David arose
and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.
And afterwards, David’s heart struck him
because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
He said to his men,
“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord,
the Lord’s anointed,
to put forth my hand against him,
seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.”

So David persuaded his men with these words
and did not permit them to attack Saul.
And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way.

Afterwards, David also arose,
and went out of the cave,
and called after Saul, “My lord the king!”
And when Saul looked behind him,
David bowed with his face to the earth and did obeisance.
And David said to Saul,
“Why do you listen to the words of men who say,
‘Behold, David seeks your hurt’?
Behold, this day your eyes have seen
how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave;
and some bade me kill you, but I spared you.
I said, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord;
for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand;
for by the fact that I cut off the skirt of your robe,
and did not kill you,
you may know and see
that there is no wrong or treason in my hands.
I have not sinned against you,
though you hunt my life to take it.
May the Lord judge between me and you,
may the Lord avenge me upon you;
but my hand shall not be against you.
As the proverb of the ancients says,
‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’,
but my hand shall not be against you.
After whom has the king of Israel come out?
After whom do you pursue?
After a dead dog! After a flea!
May the Lord, therefore, be judge,
and give sentence between me and you,
and see to it, and plead my cause,
and deliver me from your hand.”

When David had finished speaking these words to Saul,
Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?”
And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
He said to David, “You are more righteous than I;
for you have repaid me good,
whereas I have repaid you evil.
And you have declared this day
how you have dealt well with me,
in that you did not kill me
when the Lord put me into your hands.
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe?
So may the Lord reward you with good
for what you have done to me this day.
And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king
and that the kingdom of Israel
shall be established in your hand.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57:2.3-4.6 & 11 (R. 2a)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy,
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.

I call to you, God the Most High,
to God who provides for me.
May he send from heaven and save me,
and put to shame those who assail me.
May God send his loving mercy and faithfulness.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth!
for your mercy reaches to the heavens,
and your truth to the skies.

R/. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

 

Please stand for the Gospel

Alleluia, Alleluia
God who was in Christ reconciling the world to himself,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

At that time:
Jesus went up on the mountain
and called to him those whom he desired,
and they came to him.
And he appointed twelve, to be with him,
and to be sent out to preach
and have authority to cast out demons:
Simon whom he surnamed Peter;
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James,
whom he surnamed Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew,
and Matthew, and Thomas,
and James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,
and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon.
The bridegroom has come, and the virgins who were ready have gone with him into the wedding feast.