It starts right from the beginning, our first parents ‘forgetting’ the Word of God. When He stands in front of them in the flesh, his people turn to insults to avoid believing in him: ‘Beelzebub’ – ‘Lord of the Flies’. Even his family seem to reject his message. But Jesus is the crisis, the judgement, the turning point of history. Which is why all human failure breaks over him, and at the same time the seeds of the renewed creation gather round him, those who hear the Word and do the will of God, starting with His mother Mary, the beginning and the image of the Church.
Today’s Scripture: (Psalter: Week 2)
Genesis 3: 9 – 15
I will make you enemies of each other; you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring.
Response: Psalm 129.
Out of the depths I cry to you,
O Lord, Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleading.
If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt,
Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness:
for this we revere you.
My soul is waiting for the Lord,
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord
more than watchmen for day break.
Because with the Lord there is mercy
and fulness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem
from all its iniquity.
2 Corinthians 4: 13 – 5: 1
We believe and, therefore, we speak.
Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia. Alleluia!
Now the prince of this world is to be overthrown,
says the Lord.
And when I am lifted up from the earth,
I shall draw all people to myself.
Alleluia, Alleluia. Alleluia!
Mark 3: 20–35
It is the end of Satan.
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, hear our voice.
Take a look at today’s readings on Catholic Online.
War, persecution, natural disaster and poverty force millions of people from their homes. Most come from poor countries and seek safety in poor countries nearby.