FIRST
READING: Deuteronomy
6: 2 - 6
2
that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's
son,
by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command
you,
all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged.
3
Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them; that it may go
well with
you,
and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your
fathers,
has
promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD;
5
and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with
all your
soul,
and with all your might.
6
And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your
heart.
PSALM:
Psalms 18:
2 - 4, 47, 51
2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my
rock,
in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.
3
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved
from my
enemies.
4
The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed
me;
47
the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me.
SECOND
READING: Hebrews
7: 23 - 28
23
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented
by
death
from continuing in office;
24
but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for
ever.
25
Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to
God
through
him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy,
blameless,
unstained,
separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27
He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily,
first for his
own
sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when
he
offered
up himself.
28
Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but
the
word
of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has
been
made
perfect for ever.
GOSPEL:
Mark 12: 28
- 34
28
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one
another,
and
seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment
is
the
first of all?"
29
Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God, the Lord
is
one;
30
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your
soul,
and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
31
The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There
is no
other
commandment greater than these."
32
And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have
truly said that
he
is one, and there is no other but he;
33
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding,
and with
all
the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more
than all
whole
burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You
are not
far
from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him
any
question.
