Responsorial Psalm
For upright is the Lord's word
and worthy of trust is his work.
The Lord loves justice and righteousness;
the earth is full of his kindness.
But the Lord's eyes
are upon those who fear him,
upon those who trust in his loving-kindness
to deliver them from death
and preserve them from famine.
In hope we wait for the Lord,
for he is our help and our shield.
O Lord, let your love rest upon us,
even as our hope rests in you.
2nd READING (Heb 4,14-16)
We have a great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered heaven. Let us,
then, hold fast to the faith we profess. Our high priest is not indifferent to our
weaknesses, for he was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sinning. Let
us, then, with confidence approach God, the giver of grace; we will obtain mercy and,
through his favour, help in due time.
Gospel
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Master, we want
you to grant us what we are going to ask of you." And he said, "What do you want me
to do for you?” They answered, "Grant us to sit one at your right and one at your left
when you come in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are
asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptised in the way I am baptised?"
They answered, "We can." And Jesus told them, "The cup that I drink you will drink,
and you will be baptised in the way I am baptised. But to sit at my right or at my left
is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others." On hearing this, the other ten
were angry with James and John; Jesus then called them to him and said, "As you
know, the so-called rulers of the nations act as tyrants and their great ones oppress
them. But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be
your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all.
Think of the Son of Man who has not come to be served but to serve and to give his
life to redeem many."
