Wednesday in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING
“You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek. ”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 7: 1-3, 15-17

Brethren: Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;
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. 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. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The word of the Lord.

 

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 110: 1.2.3.4 (R. 4cd)
R/. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

The Lord’s revelation to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your foes
your footstool.” R/.

The Lord will send from Sion
your sceptre of power:
rule in the midst of your foes. R/.

R/. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

With you is princely rule
on the day of your power.
In holy splendour, from the womb
before the dawn,
I have begotten you. R/.

The Lord has sworn an oath
he will not change:
“You are a priest forever,
in the line of Melchizedek.” R/.

 

ALLELUIA Matthew 4:23
Alleluia.

Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people.

Alleluia.

 

GOSPEL
“Is it lawful on the sabbath to save life or to kill? ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3:1-6)

At that time: Again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.
And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that
they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.”
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. 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. The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him,
how to destroy him.

The Gospel of the Lord.