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First Reading: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

First Reading: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21

15

Through him (then) let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

17

¹ Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you.

20

² May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord,

21

furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever (and ever). Amen.

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Footnotes

¹ [17-25] Recommending obedience to the leaders of the community, the author asks for prayers (Hebrews 13:17-19). The letter concludes with a blessing (Hebrews 13:20-21), a final request for the acceptance of its message (Hebrews 13:22), information regarding Timothy (Hebrews 13:23), and general greetings (Hebrews 13:24-25).

² [20-21] These verses constitute one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament. The resurrection of Jesus is presupposed throughout Hebrews, since it is included in the author's frequently expressed idea of his exaltation, but this is the only place where it is explicitly mentioned.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

1

¹ A psalm of David. ² The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

2

In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;

3

³ you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.

4

⁴ Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.

5

⁵ You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6

⁶ Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Table of Contents Psalms 23

Footnotes

¹ [Psalm 23] God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).

² [1] My shepherd: God as good shepherd is common in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Ezekiel 34:11-16; John 10:11-18).

³ [3] The right path: connotes "right way" and "way of righteousness."

⁴ [4] A dark valley: a different division of the Hebrew consonants yields the translation "the valley of the shadow of death."

⁵ [5] You set a table before me: this expression occurs in an exodus context in Psalm 78:19. As my enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).

⁶ [6] Goodness and love: the blessings of God's covenant with Israel.

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

30

The apostles ¹ gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught.

31

² He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.

32

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.

33

People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

34

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Table of Contents Mark 6

Footnotes

¹ [30] Apostles: here, and in some manuscripts at Mark 3:14, Mark calls apostles (i.e., those sent forth) the Twelve whom Jesus sends as his emissaries, empowering them to preach, to expel demons, and to cure the sick (Mark 6:13). Only after Pentecost is the title used in the technical sense.

² [31-34] The withdrawal of Jesus with his disciples to a desert place to rest attracts a great number of people to follow them. Toward this people of the new exodus Jesus is moved with pity; he satisfies their spiritual hunger by teaching them many things, thus gradually showing himself the faithful shepherd of a new Israel; cf Numbers 27:17; Ezekiel 34:15.