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Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ez. 34:11.23-24
I will look after my sheep, says the Lord, and I shall appoint a shepherd to pasture them, and I, the Lord, will be their God.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4.11-12.19.23-27

A reading from the Second Book of Samuel.

In those days: 
After the death of Saul, 
when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, 
David remained two days in Ziklag; 
and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, 
with his clothes torn and earth upon his head. 
And when he came to David, 
he fell to the ground and did obeisance. 
David said to him, “Where do you come from?” 

And he said to him, 
“I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 
And David said to him, 
“How did it go? Tell me.” 

And he answered,
“The people have fled from the battle,
and many of the people also have fallen and are dead,
and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
Then David took hold of his clothes, and tore them; 
and so did all the men who were with him; 
and they mourned and wept and fasted until evening 
for Saul and for Jonathan his son 
and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel 
because they had fallen by the sword. 

(And David said)
“Your glory, O Israel, is slain upon your high places!
How are the mighty fallen! 

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! 
In life and in death they were not divided; 
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you daintily in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen
in the midst of the battle! 

Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; 
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was wonderful,
passing the love of women.

How are the mighty fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”

The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:2-3.5-7 (R. 4b)

R/. Let your face shine on us, Lord, 
 and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
you who lead Joseph like a flock:
enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth
upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh.
Rouse up your might and come to save us.

How long, O Lord, God of hosts,
will you be angry at the prayer of your people?
You have fed them with tears for their bread,
an abundance of tears for their drink.
You have made us the taunt of our neighbours;
our foes mock us among themselves.

R/. Let your face shine on us, Lord,
 and we shall be saved.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
that we may give heed to the words of your Son.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 3:20-21

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

In that time: 
Jesus went home with his disciples, 
and the crowd came together again 
so that they could not even eat. 
And when his friends heard it, 
they went out to seize him, 
for they said, “He is beside himself.”

The Gospel of the Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Jn 15:16
It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.

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

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)

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

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

First Reading: 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

In those days:
As they were coming home
when David returned from slaying the Philistine,
the women came out of all the cities of Israel,
singing and dancing, to meet King Saul,
with timbrels, with songs of joy, and with instruments of music.
And the women sang to one another as they made merry,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
And Saul was very angry, 
and this saying displeased him; 
he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, 
and to me, they have ascribed thousands; 
and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 
And Saul eyed David from that day on.

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, 
that they should kill David. 
But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. 
And Jonathan told David, 
“Saul my father seeks to kill you; 
therefore take heed to yourself in the morning, 
stay in a secret place and hide yourself; 
and I will go out and stand beside my father 
in the field where you are, 
and I will speak to my father about you; 
and if I learn anything I will tell you.”

And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, 
and said to him, 
“Let not the king sin against his servant David; 
because he has not sinned against you, 
and because his deeds have been of good service to you; 
for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philistine, 
and the Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel. 
You saw it, and rejoiced; 
why then will you sin against innocent blood 
by killing David without cause?” 

And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan; 
Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” 

And Jonathan called David, 
and Jonathan showed him all these things. 
And Jonathan brought David to Saul, 
and he was in his presence as before.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 56:2-3.9-10ab.10c-11.12-13 (R. 5b)

R/. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God,
for people assail me;
they fight me all day long and oppress me.
My foes assail me all day long:
many fight proudly against me.

You have kept an account of my wanderings;
you have placed my tears in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then my foes will turn back
on the day when I call to you.

This I know, that God is on my side.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord whose word I praise.

In God I trust; I shall not fear.
What can man do to me?
I am bound by the vows I have made you.
O God, I will offer you praise.

R/. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

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 s

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Entrance Antiphon:
Behold, now she follows the Lamb who was crucified for us, powerful in virginity, modesty her offering a sacrifice on the altar of chastity.

First Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

In those days: 
David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; 
your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David,
“You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him;
for you are but a youth,
and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
And David said, 
“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion 
and from the paw of the bear, 
will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
Then he took his staff in his hand, 
and chose five smooth stones from the brook, 
and put them in his shepherd’s bag or wallet; 
his sling was in his hand, 
and he drew near to the Philistine.

And the Philistine came on and drew near to David, 
with his shield-bearer in front of him. 
And when the Philistine looked and saw David, 
he disdained him; 
for he was but a youth, ruddy and comely in appearance. 
And the Philistine said to David, 
“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” 
And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 
The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, 
and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air 
and to the beasts of the field.” 

Then David said to the Philistine, 
“You come to me with a sword 
and with a spear and with a javelin; 
but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, 
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, 
and I will strike you down, and cut off your head, 
and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines 
this day to the birds of the air 
and to the wild beasts of the earth; 
that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel 
and that all this assembly may know 
that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; 
for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.”

When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, 
David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 
And David put his hand in his bag 
and took out a stone, and slung it, 
and struck the Philistine on his forehead; 
the stone sank into his forehead, 
and he fell on his face to the ground.

So David prevailed over the Philistine 
with a sling and with a stone, 
and struck the Philistine, and killed him; 
there was no sword in the hand of David. 
Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, 
and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath, 
and killed him, and cut off his head with it. 
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, 
they fled.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 144:1.2.9-10 (R. 1a)

R/. Blest be the Lord, my rock!

Blest be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle,
who prepares my fingers for war.

He is my merciful love, my fortress;
he is my stronghold, my saviour,
my shield in whom I take refuge.
He brings peoples under my rule.

To you, O God, will I sing a new song;
I will play on the ten-stringed harp
to you who give kings their victory,
who set David your servant free
from the evil sword.

R/. Blest be the Lord, my rock!

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom
and healing every infirmity a

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

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

In those days: 
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, 
seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? 
Fill your horn with oil, and go; 
I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, 
for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 

And Samuel said, “How can I go? 
If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” 

And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, 
‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 
And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, 
and I will show you what you shall do, 
and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you.” 

Samuel did what the Lord commanded, 
and came to Bethlehem. 
The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, 
and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 
And he said, “Peaceably; 
I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; 
consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” 
And he consecrated Jesse and his sons 
and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, 
“Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 

But the Lord said to Samuel, 
“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, 
because I have rejected him; 
for the Lord sees not as man sees; 
man looks on the outward appearance, 
but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. 
And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 
Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. 
And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 
And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. 
And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” 

And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, 
but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” 

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and fetch him; 
for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 

And he sent and brought him in. 
Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. 
And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, 
and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, 
and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David 
from that day forward. 
And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:20.21-22.27-28 (R. 21a)

R/. I have found my servant David.

Then you spoke in a vision.
To your faithful ones you said,
“I have set the crown on a warrior,
I have exalted one chosen from the people.

I have found my servant David,
and with my holy oil anointed him.
My hand shall always be with him,
and my arm shall make him strong.

He will call out to me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the rock of my salvation.’
I for my part will make him my firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.”

R/. I have found my servant David.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

It happened that one Sabbath 
he was going through the grainfields, 
and as they made their way 
his disciples began to pluck ears of grain. 
And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, 
why are they doing what is

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

First Reading: 1 Samuel 15:16-23

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

In those days: 
Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! 
I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” 

And he said to him, “Say on.”

And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, 
are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? 
The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 
And the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, 
‘Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, 
and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 
Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? 
Why did you swoop on the spoil, 
and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 

And Saul said to Samuel, 
“I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, 
I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, 
I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, 
and I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, 
the best of the things devoted to destruction, 
to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 

And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:8-9.16bc-17.21 & 23 (R. 23bc)

R/. To one whose way is blameless,
 I will show the salvation of God.

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices;
your offerings are always before me.
I do not take more bullocks from your farms,
nor goats from among your herds.

“How can you recite my commandments,
and take my covenant on your lips,
you who despise correction,
and cast my words behind you.”

You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?
I accuse you, lay the charge before you.
A sacrifice of praise gives me honour,
and to one whose way is blameless,
I will show the salvation of God.”

R/. To one whose way is blameless,
 I will show the salvation of God.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
The word of the Lord is living and active,
discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

At that time: 
John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; 
and people came and said to him, 
“Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, 
but your disciples do not fast?” 

And Jesus said to them, 
“Can the wedding guests fast 
while the bridegroom is with them? 
As long as they have the bridegroom with them, 
they cannot fast. 
The days will come, 
when the bridegroom is taken away from them, 
and then they will fast in that day. 
No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; 
if he does, the patch tears away from it, 
the new from the old, 
and a worse tear is made. 
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; 
if he does, the wine will burst the skins, 
and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; 
but new wine is for fresh skins.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst.

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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: Isaiah 49:3.5-6

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

The Lord said to me, “You are my servant, 
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 

And now the Lord says, 
who formed me from the womb to be his servant, 
to bring Jacob back to him, 
and that Israel might be gathered to him, 
for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord, 
and my God has become my strength—
he says: 
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant 
to raise up the tribes of Jacob 
and to restore the preserved of Israel; 
I will give you as a light to the nations, 
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40: 2 & 4ab.7-8a.8b-9.10 (R. 8a & 9a)

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

I waited, I waited for the Lord,
and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry.
He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God.

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.

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

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

The beginning of the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, 
and our brother Sosthenes,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, 
to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, 
called to be saints together with all those who in every place 
call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
both their Lord and ours: 

Grace to you and peace 
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
The word became flesh and dwelt among us. To all who received him, he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia.

Gospel: John 1:29-34

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

At that time: 
John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
This is he of whom I said, 
‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, 
for he was before me.’ 
I myself did not know him; 
but for this, I came baptizing with water, 
that he might be revealed to Israel.” 
And John bore witness, 
“I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, 
and it remained on him. 
I did not know him; 
but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 
‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, 
this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 
And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst?

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Entrance Antiphon
The righteous will flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a Lebanon cedar, planted in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our God.

First Reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-4.17-19; 10:1a

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish,
the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,
son of Becorath, son of Aphiah,
a Benjaminite, a man of wealth;
and he had a son whose name was Saul, 
a handsome young man. 
There was not a man among the people of Israel 
more handsome than he; 
from his shoulders upward 
he was taller than any of the people.

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. 
So Kish said to Saul his son, 
“Take one of the servants with you, and arise, 
go and look for the donkeys.” 
And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim 
and passed through the land of Shalishah, 
but they did not find them. 
And they passed through the land of Shaalim, 
but they were not there. 
Then they passed through the land of Benjamin 
but did not find them.

When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, 
“Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! 
He it is who shall rule over my people.” 

Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, 
“Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 

Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer; 
go up before me to the high place, 
for today you shall eat with me, 
and in the morning I will let you go 
and will tell you all that is on your mind.”

Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head, 
and kissed him and said, 
“Has not the Lord anointed you 
to be prince over his people Israel? 
And you shall reign over the people of the Lord
and you will save them 
from the hand of their enemies round about.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 21:2-3.4-5.6-7 (R. 2a)

R/. In your strength, O Lord, the king rejoices.

In your strength, O Lord, the king rejoices;
how greatly your salvation makes him glad!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you have not withheld the prayer of his lips.

You came to meet him with blessings of prosperity;
you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given:
days that will last from age to age.

By your saving help great is his glory;
you have bestowed upon him majesty and splendour;
you have granted him blessings forever,
made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.

R/. In your strength, O Lord, the king rejoices.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
The Lord has sent me to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the captives.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

At that time: 
Jesus went out again beside the sea, 
and all the crowd gathered about him, 
and he taught them. 
And as he passed on, 
he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, 
and he said to him, “Follow me.” 
And he rose and followed him.

And as he sat at table in his house, 
many tax collectors and sinners were sitting 
with Jesus and his disciples; 
for there were many who followed him. 
And the scribes of the Pharisees, 
when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, 
said to his disciples, 
“Why does he eat with the tax collectors and sinners?” 

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, 
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, 
but those who are sick; 
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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Entrance Antiphon.
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.

First Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-7.10-22a

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

In those days: 
All the elders of Israel gathered together 
and came to Samuel at Ramah, 
and said to him, “Behold, 
you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; 
now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations.” 

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 
“Give us a king to govern us.” 
And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 
And the Lord said to Samuel, 
“Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; 
for they have not rejected you, 
but they have rejected me from being king over them.

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord
to the people who were asking a king from him.
He said, “These will be the ways of the king 
who will reign over you: 
he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots 
and to be his horsemen, 
and to run before his chariots, 
and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands 
and commanders of fifties, 
and some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest, 
and to make his implements of war 
and the equipment of his chariots. 
He will take your daughters 
to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 
He will take the best of your fields 
and vineyards and olive orchards 
and give them to his servants. 
He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards 
and give it to his officers and to his servants. 
He will take your menservants and maidservants, 
and the best of your cattle and your donkeys, 
and put them to his work. 
He will take the tenth of your flocks, 
and you shall be his slaves. 
And in that day you will cry out because of your king, 
whom you have chosen for yourselves; 
but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; 
and they said, “No! but we will have a king over us, 
that we also may be like all the nations, 
and that our king may govern us 
and go out before us and fight our battles.” 

And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, 
he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 
And the Lord said to Samuel, 
“Listen to their voice, and make them a king.”

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:16-17.18-19 (R. 2a)

R/. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.

How blessed the people who know your praise,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
who make your justice their joyful acclaim.

For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favour, it is that our might is exalted.
Behold, the Lord is our shield;
he is the Holy One of Israel, our king.

R/. I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
A great prophet has risen among us, and God has visited his people.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 2:1.12

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, 
it was reported that he was at home. 
And many were gathered together, 
so that there was no longer room for them, 
not even about the door; 
and he was preaching the word to them. 
And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 
And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, 
they removed the roof above him; 
and when they had made an

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Entrance Antiphon.
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.

First Reading: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

A reading from the First Book of Samuel.

It happened that in those days 
Israel went out to battle against the Philistines; 
they encamped at Ebenezer, 
and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 
The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, 
and when the battle spread, 
Israel was defeated by the Philistines, 
who slew about four thousand men on the field of battle. 
And when the troops came to the camp, 
the elders of Israel said, 
“Why has the Lord put us to rout today before the Philistines? 
Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord 
here from Shiloh, 
that he may come among us 
and save us from the power of our enemies.” 
So the people sent to Shiloh, 
and brought from there 
the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, 
who is enthroned on the cherubim; 
and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, 
were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, 
all Israel gave a mighty shout, 
so that the earth resounded. 
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, 
they said, 
“What does this great shouting 
in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” 
And when they learned that the ark of the Lord 
had come to the camp, 
the Philistines were afraid; 
for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” 
And they said, “Woe to us! 
For nothing like this has happened before. 
Woe to us! 
Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? 
These are the gods who struck the Egyptians 
with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 
Take courage, and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, 
lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; 
acquit yourselves like men and fight.”

So the Philistines fought, 
and Israel was defeated, 
and they fled, every man to his home; 
and there was a very great slaughter, 
for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 
And the ark of God was captured; 
and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 44:10.11.14-15.24-25 (R. 27b)

R/. Redeem us, O Lord, with your merciful love!

Yet now you have rejected us, disgraced us;
you no longer go forth with our armies.
You make us retreat from the foe;
those who hate us plunder us at will.

You make us the taunt of our neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those around us.
Among the nations you make us a byword;
among the peoples, they shake their heads.

Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Arise! Do not reject us forever.
Why do you hide your face,
and forget our oppression and misery?

R/. Redeem us, O Lord, with your merciful love!
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom
and healing every infirmity among the people.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

At that time: 
A leper came to Jesus begging him, 
and kneeling said to him, 
“If you will, you can make me clean.” 

Moved with pity, 
he stretched out his hand and touched him, 
and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 
And immediately the leprosy left him, 
and he was made clean. 
And he sternly charged him, 
and sent him away at once, and said to him, 
“See that you s