Responsorial Psalm
Have mercy on me, O God, in your love.
In your great compassion blot out my sin.
Wash me thoroughly of my guilt;
cleanse me of evil.
Create in me, O God, a pure heart;
give me a new and steadfast spirit.
Do not cast me out of your presence
nor take your holy spirit from me.
Give me again the joy of your salvation
and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will show wrongdoers your ways
and sinners will return to you.
You take no pleasure in sacrifice;
were I to give a burnt offering,
you would not delight in it.
O God, my sacrifice is a broken spirit;
a contrite heart you will not despise.
2nd. READING (Heb 5,7-9)
Christ, in the days of his mortal life, offered his sacrifice with tears and cries. He
prayed to him who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his
humble submission. Although he was Son, he learned through suffering what
obedience was, and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for
those who obey him.
Gospel
There were some Greeks who had come up to Jerusalem to worship during the feast.
They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we
wish to see Jesus." Philip went to Andrew and the two of them told Jesus. Then Jesus
said, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, I say to you,
unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it
produces much fruit. Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their
life in this world keep it for everlasting life. Whoever wants to serve me, let him
follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the
Father will honor him. Now my soul is in distress. Shall I say: 'Father, save me from
this hour'? But, I have come to this hour to face all this. Father, glorify your Name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and I will glorify it again." People
standing there heard something and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel was
speaking to him." Then Jesus declared, "This voice did not come for my sake but for
yours; now sentence is being passed on this world; now the ruler of this world is to be
cast down. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all to myself." With
these words Jesus referred to the kind of death he was to die.
