Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
when we do not see clear in life,
when suffering comes our way,
we tend to blame you or people.
Help us to realize clearly
how much of the evil around us
comes from within ourselves,
from our greed for riches and power,
from our self-complacency and selfishness.
Speak to us your word of forgiveness
and change us from a silent majority of evil
into solidarity of love,
by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

James calls blessed those who resist the test of temptations. But temptations do not come from God but from the concupiscence within ourselves. From God come all good gifts.

First Reading: Jas 1:12 –18

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has
been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised
to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should
say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to
temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each
person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then
desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches
maturity it gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all
good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or
shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the
word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 94:12 –13a, 14 –15, 18 –19

R/. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R/. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R/. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

When I say, “My foot is slipping,”
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me;
When cares abound within me,
your comfort gladdens my soul.
R/. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

Gospel Introduction

The theme of yesterday is continued in today's reading. We should not ask for extraordinary signs but learn to see God's presence and saving action in the events of life. The apostles have seen the signs Jesus worked among them. We, too, should open our eyes and ears to the good things God does among us.

Gospel Reading: Mk 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring more bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then Jesus warned them, “Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” And they said to one another, “He saw that we have no bread.”

Aware of this, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about the loaves you are short of? Do you not see or understand? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear? And do you not remember when I broke the five loaves among five thousand? How many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” They answered, “Twelve.” “And having seven loaves for the four thousand, how many wicker baskets of leftovers did you collect?” They answered, “Seven.” Then Jesus said to them, “Do you still not understand?”