Opening Prayer

God our Father,
through your Son Jesus Christ
you brought healing to your people
and came to bind us to you
in a lasting covenant of love.
May we not only admire his saving power
but accept him in faith as our brother,
your Son, our Lord and Savior.
Make him the ground and meaning of our lives
and fill us with his Holy Spirit,
that we may build up among us
your kingdom and a community
of faith, hope and love.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

David's victory over Goliath and the praise the people give him for it becomes for Saul a reason to become very jealous of David. Saul's son Jonathan, a close friend of David, pleads for him and can temporarily refrain Saul from harming David.

First Reading: 1 Sm 18:6–9; 19:1–7

When David and Saul approached (on David’s return after
slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities
of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines,
joyful songs, and sistrums. The women played and
sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
“They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship.” And from that day
on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David with his son
Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul’s son Jonathan,
who was very fond of David, told him: “My father Saul is
trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow
morning; get out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however,
will go out and stand beside my father in the countryside where
you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I
will let you know.”

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying
to him: “Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you, but has helped
you very much by his deeds. When he took his life in his hands
and slew the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great
victory for all Israel through him, you were glad to see it. Why,
then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood by
killing David without cause?” Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and
swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.” So Jonathan
summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as
before.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 56:2–3, 9–10a, 10b–11, 12–13

R/  In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R/  In God I trust; I shall not fear.

My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R/  In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R/  In God I trust; I shall not fear.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R/  In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Gospel Introduction

In the gospel Mark gives a summary of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Yesterday we heard how the Pharisees are blind to him and attack him on legal points; the crowds flock to him because of his healing power, not so much to be converted. The demons know who Jesus is, but, of course, they do not believe in him. Here we have different attitudes, but no faith yet. This is why perhaps Mark imposes silence on the spirits. We offer this eucharist together with Christ, our only Savior and Mediator, who always intercedes for us.

Gospel Reading: Mk 3:7-12

Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the lakeside and a large crowd from Galilee followed him. A great number of people also came from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Transjordan and from the region of Tyre and Sidon, for they had heard of all that he was doing.

Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him, to prevent the people from crushing him. He healed so many that all who had diseases kept pressing towards him to touch him. Even the people who had evil spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and cry out, "You are the Son of God."

But he warned them sternly not to tell anyone who he was.