Jas 4:13-17; Mark 9

The Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr – Year II
Readings on p. 860 and Antiphons on p.1919 (Common of Pastors: For a Bishop: 2) of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.

I shall raise up for myself a faithful priest who will act in accord with my heart and my mind, says the Lord.

First Reading: James 4:13-17

A reading from the Letter of Saint James.

Beloved:

Come now, you who say,
“Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town
and spend a year there and trade and get gain”;
whereas you do not know about tomorrow.
What is your life?
For you are a mist
that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills,
we shall live and we shall do this or that.”
As it is, you boast in your arrogance.
All such boasting is evil.
Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it,
for him it is sin.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 49:2-3.6-10.11 (R. Matthew 5:3)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Hear this, all you peoples,
give ear, all who dwell in the world,
people both high and low,
rich and poor alike!

Why should I fear in evil days
the malice of the foes who surround me,
those who trust in their wealth,
and boast of the vastness of their riches?

No man can ransom a brother,
nor pay a price to God for his life.
How high is the price of his soul!
The ransom can never be enough!
No one can buy life unending,
nor avoid coming to the grave.

Anyone sees that the wise will die;
the foolish will perish with the senseless,
and leave their wealth to others.

R/. Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Please stand for the Gospel.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father, but by me.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 9: 38-40

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

At that time:
John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name,
and we forbade him because he was not following us.”

But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him;
for no one who does a mighty work in my name
will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
For those who are not against us are for us.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
I come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly, says the Lord.