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First Reading: Sirach 51:12 cd-20
I thank the Lord and I praise him;
I bless the name of the Lord.
When I was young and innocent,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer
I prayed for her before the temple,
and I will seek her until the end,
and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
My heart delighted in her,
My feet kept to the level path
because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
In the short time I paid heed,
I met with great instruction.
Since in this way I have profited,
I will give my teacher grateful praise.
I became resolutely devoted to her–
the good I persistently strove for.
My soul was tormented in seeking her,
My hand opened her gate
and I came to know her secrets.
I directed my soul to her,
and in cleanness I attained to her.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R./ The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Gospel Reading: Mark 11:27-33
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem.
As he was walking in the temple area,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders
approached him and said to him,
“By what authority are you doing these things?
Or who gave you this authority to do them?”
Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question.
Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
They discussed this among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”–
they feared the crowd,
for they all thought John really was a prophet.
So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”
Then Jesus said to them,
“Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you are the source of all wisdom.
Speak your word to us today
and open our hearts to it,
that we may learn to look with your eyes
to the world and to people
and that your wisdom
may guide us in all we do.
We ask you this through him you sent among us
and in whom we believe,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
First Reading Introduction: Give me wisdom and I will give you glory.
In the first reading, the Old Testament writer thanks God, from whom he has learned wisdom. God’s wisdom has brought him insight and happiness.
Gospel Introduction: By what authority are you doing these things?
The Gospel shows us the Jewish leaders challenging Jesus’ authority for what he teaches and does because they feel challenged in their own authority. Jesus does not give them an answer because they are not willing to accept him anyway because they only try to justify themselves. They and we cannot understand Jesus unless we encounter and welcome and love him as a person.
General Intercessions
– That the Church may imitate Jesus and base its authority on service and healing, we pray:
– That those in authority may be humble and self-effacing, we pray:
– That we may recognize authority more in goodness and mercy rather than in power, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you have given us your Son, Jesus,
to be with us and to show us the way to you.
Let him become to us a living person
present here among us
in these signs of bread and wine,
present also in people around us,
present in our lives
as our companion on the road to you,
for he is our Lord for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, loving Father,
your Son, Jesus, has been with us
in this Eucharistic celebration.
Give us the wisdom and the humility
to accept your Son always
on his own terms and with his own authority.
May we thus, come to love him more
and to live the kind of life
he lived among people
as the truth and the life and the way to you,
our living and loving God for ever.
Blessing
Thank God that we believe in Jesus. May we also accept those who speak in his name. We ask the Lord to increase our faith. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
