Saturday of the Seventh week in Ordinary Time
Book of Sirach 17:1-13.
God from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him. He makes man return to earth again, and endows him with a strength of his own.
Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.
He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.
He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.
He forms men’s tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.
With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.
He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works.
That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.
He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance.
An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.
His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.
He says to them, “Avoid all evil”; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.
Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.
Psalms 103(102):13-14.15-16.17-18a.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows how we are formed,
remembers that we are dust.
Man’s days are like those of grass;
like a flower of the field he blooms;
The wind sweeps over him and he is gone,
and his place knows him no more.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
and his justice toward children’s children
among those who keep his covenant.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 10:13-16.
People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
