Opening Prayer

Gracious and holy God,
you have chosen us to be
your kingdom of peace and mature love.
But we have to acknowledge with shame
that there is still much room for growth.
Make our love richer, more sensitive;
Complete the work you have begun in us,
that we may have a permanent place in your heart
and reflect the adult, healing goodness
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

David and Goliath! A boy and a professional military leader. Often in the Bible the weak are more powerful than the strong. What is weak and small attracts God's strength. It is not really the underdog who beats the bragging man of violence, but God who makes his greatness known, for he is the God and Savior of his people.

First Reading: 1 Sm 17:32–33, 37, 40–51

David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am
at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” But Saul
answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and
fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a
warrior from his youth.”
David continued: “The LORD, who delivered me from the
claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the
clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the
LORD will be with you.”
Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag.
With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.
With his shield bearer marching before him, the Philistine
also advanced closer and closer to David. When he had sized
David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and
handsome in appearance, the Philistine held David in contempt.
The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against
me with a staff?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods
and said to him, “Come here to me, and I will leave your flesh
for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” David
answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear
and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD
of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.
Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike
you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave
your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds
of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall
learn that Israel has a God. All this multitude, too, shall learn
that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the
battle is the LORD’s and he shall deliver you into our hands.”
The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters,
while David ran quickly toward the battle line in the direction
of the Philistine. David put his hand into the bag and took out
a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on
the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he
fell prostrate on the ground. Thus David overcame the Philistine
with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally, and did
it without a sword. Then David ran and stood over him; with
the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath he
dispatched him and cut off his head.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 144:1b, 2, 9 –10

R/ Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R/ Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R/ Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R/ Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Gospel Introduction

We sometimes reduce our religion to a matter of casuistic laws: Is it permitted to heal on Sundays? When does it become a mortal sin if I am late for Mass? Is it wrong if I do not raise my hands for the Our Father? We sometimes behave like immature kids. God wants us to grow up in our faith. Where is the good news of Jesus? Where is our love for the Lord and for people?

Gospel Reading: Mk 3:1-6

Again Jesus entered the synagogue. A man who had a paralyzed hand was there and some people watched Jesus: Would he heal the man on the sabbath? If he did they could accuse him.

Jesus said to the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand here in the center." Then he asked them, "What does the Law allow us to do on the sabbath? To do good or to do harm? To save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
Then Jesus looked around at them with anger and deep sadness because they had closed their minds. And he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was healed. But as soon as the Pharisees left, they met with Herod's supporters, looking for a way to destroy Jesus.