 |
| "The Man with the Withered Hand" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Hebrews
7: 1 - 3, 15 - 17
1
For this Melchiz'edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed
him;
2
and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is
first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he
is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
3
He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither
beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he
continues a priest for ever.
15
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the
likeness of Melchiz'edek,
16
who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement
concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life.
17
For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after
the order of Melchiz'edek."
PSALM:
Psalms 110: 1
- 4
1
The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, till I make
your enemies your footstool."
2
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst
of your foes!
3
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day you lead your
host upon the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning like dew
your youth will come to you.
4
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a
priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek."
GOSPEL:
Mark 3:
1 - 6
1
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a
withered hand.
2
And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the
sabbath, so that they might accuse him.
3
And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here."
4
And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or
to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
5
And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of
heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He
stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
6
The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the
Hero'di-ans against him, how to destroy him.
