Readings: Saturday, February 22, 2014

First Reading

First Reading: Hebrews 11:1-7

Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
          and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God,
          so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.
By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain’s.
Through this, he was attested to be righteous,
          God bearing witness to his gifts,
          and through this, though dead, he still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death,
          and he was found no more because God had taken him.
Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him,
          for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists
          and that he rewards those who seek him.
By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen,
          with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. 
Through this, he condemned the world
          and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.
 

Responsorial Psalm

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm   145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11
R./ I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
          and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
          his greatness is unsearchable.
R./ I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
          and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
          and tell of your wondrous works.
R./ I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord,
          and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
          and speak of your might. 
R./ I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

 

Holy Gospel

Gospel Reading: Mark   9:2-13
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
          and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
          and his clothes became dazzling white,
          such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
          and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
          “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
          one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
          then from the cloud came a voice,
          “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone
          but Jesus alone with them.
 
As they were coming down from the mountain,
          he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
          except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
          questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Then they asked him,
          “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things,
          yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man
          that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come
          and they did to him whatever they pleased,
          as it is written of him.”