Heb 12:4-7.11-15; Mark 6

Saint Blaise, Bishop & Martyr
Wednesday 4th week in Ordinary Time
Antiphons on page 1893 and Readings on p.786 of Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon
This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God and did not fear the words of the godless, for he was built on solid rock.

First Reading: Hebrews 12: 4-7.11-15

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews

Brothers and sisters:
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
And have you forgotten the exhortation
which addresses you as sons?-
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor lose courage when you are punished by him.
For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure.
God is treating you as sons;
for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

For the moment
all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant;
later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands
and strengthen your weak knees,
and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be put out of joint
but rather be healed.
Strive for peace with all ,
and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God;
that no “root of bitterness” spring up and cause trouble,
and by it the many become defiled.

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2.13-14.17-18a (R. see 17ab)

Let us pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. The mercy of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold Him in fear.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits.

As a father has compassion on his children,
the Lord’s compassion is on those who fear him.
For he knows of what we are made;
he remembers that we are dust.

But the mercy of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold him in fear,
upon children’s children his justice,
for those who keep his covenant.

R/. The mercy of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold Him in fear.

 

Please stand for the Gospel

Alleluia, Alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

At that time:
Jesus came to his own country;
and his disciples followed him.
And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue;
and many who heard him were astonished, saying,
“Where did this man get all this?
What is the wisdom given to him?
What mighty works are wrought by his hands!
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary
and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon,
and are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offence at him.

And Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honour,
except in his own country,
and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
And he could do no mighty work there,
except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people
and healed them.
And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
And he went about among the villages teaching.

The Gospel of the Lord

Communion Antiphon
Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me, says the Lord.