Heb 7:25-8

Memorial of St Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Readings on p.739 of the Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon
All the earth shall bow down before you, O God, and shall sing to you, shall sing your name, O Most High!

First Reading: Hebrews 7:25-8:6

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

Brothers and sisters:
Jesus is able for all time
to save those who draw near to God through him,
since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest,
holy, blameless, unstained,
separated from sinners, 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;
he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Indeed, 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 for ever.
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 sanctuary
and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices;
hence 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 sanctuary;
for when Moses was about to erect the tent,
he was instructed by God, saying,
“See that you make everything according to the pattern
which was shown you on the mountain.”
But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry
which 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: Psalm 40:7-8a.8b-9.10.17 (R. see 8a.9a)

R/. 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.

R/. See I have come, Lord, to do your will

Gospel Acclamation:
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 multitude from Galilee followed;
also from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea
and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon
a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him.
And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him
because of the crowd, lest they should crush him;
for he had healed many,
so that all who had diseases pressed upon 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