FIRST
READING: 2 Timothy 1:1-8
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to
the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus.
2
To Timothy my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace, from God
the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
3
I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure
conscience, that without ceasing, I have a remembrance of thee in my
prayers, night and day.
4
Desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be
filled with joy,
5
Calling to mind that faith which is in thee unfeigned, which also
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I
am certain that in thee also.
6
For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God
which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands.
7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of
love, and of sobriety.
8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of
God.
OR
FIRST
READING: Titus 1:1-5
1
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to
the faith of the elect of God and the acknowledging of the truth,
which is according to godliness:
2
Unto the hope of life everlasting, which God, who lieth not, hath
promised before the times of the world:
3
But hath in due times manifested his word in preaching, which is
committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour:
4
To Titus my beloved son, according to the common faith, grace and
peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Saviour.
5
For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order
the things that are wanting, and shouldest ordain priests in every
city, as I also appointed thee.
PSALM:
Psalms 96:1-3, 7-8, 10
1
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2
Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from
day to day.
3
Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.
7
Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the
Lord glory and honour:
8
Bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and come
into his courts:
10
Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath
corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the
people with justice.
GOSPEL:
Mark 4:26-34
26
And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed
into the earth,
27
And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the seed should
spring, and grow up whilst he knoweth not.
28
For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then
the ear, afterwards the full corn in the ear.
29
And when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the
sickle, because the harvest is come.
30
And he said: To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or to what
parable shall we compare it?
31
It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth,
is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:
32
And when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all
herbs, and shooteth out great branches, so that the birds of the air
may dwell under the shadow thereof.
33
And with many such parables, he spoke to them the word, according as
they were able to hear.
34
And without parable he did not speak unto them; but apart, he
explained all things to his disciples.
