July 3, 2021

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SACRED HEART CHURCH OF

THE FIRST PEOPLES

10821-96 Street, Edmonton, AB T5H 2J8 P: 780.422.3052 F: 780.423.0176 E: sacredheart.firstpeoples@caedm.ca

Facebook: Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples-Catholic Church

Baptism Preparation

The next Baptism Preparation

Class will be on Thursday

July 15, 2021 at 6: pm in the

Parish Boardroom. Please

register by calling the office at

780-422-3052

Mass Schedule

Daily Masses from Monday to

Saturday at 9 am (Live

Stream)

All Sundays at 10:00 am,

11:30 am (Indigenous Mass)

4:00 pm (Eritrean Mass) and

7:00 pm at Santa Maria

Goretti Catholic Church and

Holy Rosary at 7 pm (Live

Streaming from our

Facebook)

BAPTISM

1. Yoyada Zemikeal

2. Olvia Pilon

3. Filmona Berhe

DEATH

1. John Freeland0Card

2. Shay-Lean

Wanderingspirit

OHPAHOWIPISIM (The Flying Up Moon) MONTH OF JULY

REFLECTIONS

I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to solve. I asked for prosperity and God gave me brain and brawn to work. I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help. I asked for favours, and God gave me opportunities. I received nothing I wanted but everything I needed

WEEKLY SUNDAY COLLECTION

From Sunday June 27th to July 3rd $ 2252.00, Church Building Fund $ 3940.00, (Knights of Columbus) Donations for the Food $607.00, Baptism Donations $100.00 and Recyclable cans and bottles $ 171.00 and Other donations $ 100.00

PARISH TEAM

Fr. Susai Jesu, OMI Fr. Mark Blom, OMI Deacon Paul Tam

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July 1, 2021

Dear Reverend Father,

Statement for reading at masses on the weekend of July 3-4, 2021

The recent attacks on Catholic churches across the country, and most recently the fire that destroyed the historic St Jean Baptiste Church in Morinville, have left many of us shocked, saddened, and frightened. We all know that these events have followed the heart-breaking discoveries of unmarked graves at the sites of residential schools, most of which were operated by Catholic clergy and sisters. Each new discovery causes incredible pain to Indigenous people, who have suffered so much from the harm that these schools caused to their families, culture, and communities. We need to find ways to share that pain, to validate their experiences, and to let them know that we stand in solidarity with them in our common search for truth and reconciliation.

As people of faith, we cannot give in to fear and hatred. But we can be vigilant. The Archdiocese and our parishes are cooperating with police at all levels to help ensure that we keep our churches safe. As individuals, we can be vigilant in learning more about the history and legacy of the residential schools, and the Catholic role in them. A good place to start is by reading the Calls to Action in the report of the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and by pressing our church and government leaders to act on those calls. These include six calls to action specifically regarding missing children and burial information.

Finally, and most importantly, we must be vigilant in prayer. Let us unite ourselves in prayer with all those who are suffering as a result of recent events. Let us pray for peace, healing and reconciliation for all, including those whose anger has led them to attack our places of worship. Let us entrust all these efforts to our patron saint and guardian. St. Joseph, pray for us.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Richard W. Smith

Archbishop of Edmonton

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HOMILY SUNDAY 14 – B Called To Be Prophets

(Ezk 2:2-5; Ps 122; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6) *******************************************

Have you ever thought of yourself as a prophet?

To be baptized into Jesus Christ means that we are all called to be prophets.

Our baptismal call is often taken for granted. We know that we are baptized but we easily overlook that fact that to be baptized is to share in the priestly, prophetic and kingly role of Jesus.

In today’s gospel, Jesus himself finds it difficult to teach in his hometown, which unfortunately is all too normal. It seems that it is always easier to accept a resource person when they come from somewhere else. One of definition of an expert is someone who comes from more than 100 kilometers away. Those closer to us, whom we know, are too familiar, too well known. We know their weaknesses and that tends to hide their gifts. Ezekiel, in the first reading, experiences the same challenge.

A modern-day example is Ron Rolheiser, an Oblate theologian and spiritual writer. He packs halls in the States and Europe as a celebrity, but years ago, when he dared to give a retreat in Saskatoon that dealt with a challenging topic, it was cancelled due to lack of participants.

Sr. Joan Chittister OSB provides an interesting reflection on being a prophet. She writes, “We like to separate the prophets of the church from the people of the church. We like to separate ourselves from the demands of greatness. But the prophetic dimensions of the church, Scripture demonstrates in its greatest prophetic figures of Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, and Ezekiel, are simple souls just like us: ordinary citizens, compassionate lovers, justice-seeking and persistent idealists who move with courage into places that everyone else takes for granted, and speak God’s word in the midst of human chaos loudly, clearly,

courageously, whatever the levy it imposes on their own lives. Prophecy, in other words, is not a luxury; it is an essential dimension of the Christian life. We will not be forgiven our disdain of holy risk in the name of weakness.”

We need to be reminded over and over again that being prophetic is part of our baptismal calling. To be prophetic is to be first of all immersed with the mind and heart of God through prayer and study around any particular issue.

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It is to be on fire for fairness and justice for especially the poor and downtrodden, for whom God has a particular care and concern. And it is then to have the courage to speak truth to power in pointing out any abuses or injustice that might exist in any given situation, risking one’s own comfort, reputation and convenience in the process.

Sojourners Magazine, in the July/August of 2002, carried a piece featuring the prophetic action of a very ordinary worker. Apparently, the management of a group of Florida nursing homes filed objections with the National Labor Relations Board claiming that organizers had used voodoo practices to intimidate a largely Haitian workforce into voting to unionize at one of their homes.

Marie Jean-Phillipe, a Haitian-American and one of the staff of 86 who was encouraging others to vote for the union, was portrayed as a “priestess” who used “voodoo beads.” In fact, this quiet little lady was a Catholic daily communicant who carried a rosary and sometimes prayed it walking the corridors when things got quiet. The real issues were low wages, unaffordable health insurance and mistreatment from management, not voodoo beads, but it’s not always easy for people to deal with the truth, especially when there’s money involved. These people were taking offence at Marie, tripping over her on a major issue. They didn’t like her message, so she must be “beside herself,” or even in cahoots with the devil. Doesn’t that sound like the Gospel of today?

Perhaps today we can reflect on how we can be more prophetic in our own lives. Are we aware of any injustice, unfairness, discrimination or prejudice in our family circle, school situation, work place or community? Can we make a point of gathering up more information about the situation and praying about it to discover the mind of God in this situation? Then can we take some positive action or speak to this situation to help to bring about a resolution that will make our little corner of the world a better place?

It seems one of the superior generals of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate spoke prophetic words to we Oblates on a visit to Canada in, I believe, the thirties. Noting the effort that we were putting into establishing Indian Residential Schools at the time, he warned us that we were making a mistake. Our task was not to be running these huge institutions, he warned, but rather living with the Indigenous peoples, learning their language, and sharing the gospel with them. Like most prophets, his words fell on deaf ears, as we were already too entrenched and enmeshed in that system to change our ways. Had that prophet been listened to then, we would probably be spared much

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of the pain we are going through today regarding the issue of unmarked graves.

Richard Rohr, another modern-day prophet, shares this insight into being prophetic: “There are two ways of being a prophet. One is to tell the enslaved that they can be free. It is the difficult path of Moses. The second is to tell those who think they are free that they are in fact enslaved. This is the even more difficult path of Jesus.”

The Eucharist that we celebrate today is a gift to us flowing from the prophetic action of Jesus who confronted the with compassion and integrity at the cost of giving up his very own life.

May our sharing in his Word and his Body and Blood empower us to be more prophetic in addressing the injustices of our day. May God bless us all.

Written by Archbishop Emeritus Sylvain Lavoie, OMI

ANCHORING OURSELVES WITHIN GOD’S GOODNESS

What would Jesus do? For some Christians, that’s the easy answer to every question. In every situation all we need to ask is: What would Jesus do?

Given Jesus’ complexity, it’s no accident that theologians, preachers, and spiritualities often find in his person and his teachings ways that reflect more how they would handle a situation than how he would. We see this in our churches and spiritualities everywhere, and I say this with sympathy, not with judgment. None of us gets Jesus fully right.

We need to faithfully hold and carry within us the tension between being obedient to our churches and not betraying the critical voices within our own conscience. If we do that honestly, one thing will eventually constellate inside us as an absolute:

God is good! Everything Jesus taught and incarnated was predicated on that truth. Anything that jeopardizes or belies that, be it a church, a theology, a liturgical practice, or a spirituality is wrong. And any voice within dogma or private conscience that betrays that is also wrong.

How we conceive of God colors for good or for bad everything within our religious practice. And above all else, Jesus revealed this about God: God is good. That truth needs to ground everything else, our churches, our

theologies, our spiritualties, our liturgies, and our understanding of everyone else.

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Sadly, often it doesn’t.

The fear that God is not good disguises itself in subtle ways but is always manifest whenever our religious teachings or practices somehow make God in heaven not

as understanding, merciful, and indiscriminate and unconditional in love as Jesus was on earth. It’s also manifest whenever we fear that we’re dispensing grace too cheaply and making God too accessible.

Sadly, the God who is met in our churches today is often too-narrow, too-merciless, too-tribal, too-petty, and too-untrustworthy to be worthy of Jesus … or the surrender of our soul.

What would Jesus do? Admittedly the question is complex. However, we know we have the wrong answer whenever we

make God anything less than fully good, whenever we set conditions for unconditional love, and whenever, however subtly, we block access to God and God’s mercy.

Ron Rolheiser San Antonio, Texas www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

PROPHETS? NO THANKS!

The Word today portrays Ezekiel, Paul and Jesus as prophets. At first thought, we might be inclined to think that is a wonderful thing – to be called to be a prophet. After all, prophets speak God’s Word and call people into relationship with God. Right? Not so simple or glamorous, as we recognize in the readings. Ezekiel is warned that his listeners are a “rebellious house”, not too inclined to hear a prophetic word that calls them to conversion. Paul bears a “thorn” to prevent him from becoming too proud of his

role; he is challenged to recognize that God really only works through Paul’s weakness. And finally, Jesus is rejected by his hometown folks because, really, could a person known to everyone from birth be called by God to be a prophet?

At our baptism, we are anointed priest, prophet and ruler. Priest is something we can identify with, as we associate priesthood with prayer, celebrating God’s love, sharing God’s gifts with others. We can all fulfill that call. Ruler is a rather different matter for us today, as the idea of exercising power is not something that we can expect in our lives, for the most part, as we generally equate that with political power.

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But the idea of being anointed prophet is one well beyond our notion of probability. Who of us feels competent to speak God’s Word in a way that calls and challenges others to conversion? Of course, as Paul would remind us, our baptismal call to be prophetic is not something that we can do on our own. Rather than offering a life of comfort and safety, this baptismal call puts great expectations on us; expectations that can only be met when we recognize our individual weakness and open ourselves to the indwelling of the Spirit and the power of Christ dwelling in us and personified in the Christian community.

As prophets, we are called to proclaim that the reign of God is at hand and to co-create a just and loving society. As we hear the call as individuals and community to live out our baptismal call to be prophets, our response, rather than being “who am I to do this”, should be a resounding “sign me up!”

Richard Beaudette, OMI Vocation Team Vicar1@omilacombe.ca

OUR REAL MORAL STRUGGLE

“The heart has its reasons!” Blaise Pascal, who was a French mathematician, philosopher, writer and Catholic theologian wrote that.

I think that explains why our feelings and behaviour are often a mystery to us: “Why do I feel this way?” “Why am I so restless just now?” “Why am I angry at this person when I should feel love?” “Why do I feel this particular jealousy, coldness, bitterness, or obsession?”

The heart has its reasons and we’re not always privy to them. Part of the heart’s tortured complexity is its pride. We have proud hearts (for good reasons). Because of that pride, we are never far from being defensive, aloof, cold, assertive, suspicious, and paranoid. A very small

slight can trigger huge reactions that can quickly make us shut doors inside of us.

We all know how easily this happens: We feel a little threatened and immediately close doors that were once open, to protect ourselves.

There’s a biblical name for this: hardness of heart.

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Jesus warns against this. For example, he idealized children, warned about the dangers of not welcoming them, asked us to be like them, and laid hands on them. Scholars tell us that his laying hands on them was more than a simple gesture of affection. The laying on of hands is an ordination, a missioning. For Jesus, children are “missionaries” in that they reveal to others that discipleship consists in having a heart that is not yet hardened, but is still trusting, vulnerable, warm. We all start from there, but our wounds cause us to harden. Jesus invites us back

to that place, before our hearts grew hard.

To keep a mellow, warm, trusting heart when, as Pascal says, the heart has its reasons to want to chill and become aloof in order to protect itself. But the capacity to resist that impulse, to not turn cold, to not turn off, is, I believe, the real mark of maturity and even of faith.

For the most part, as we know, we’re not there, none of us. We’re still too often defensive, cool, self-protecting and prone to all the subtle negative behaviours this triggers.

But it’s good to recognize that this is a broken place, a humble place, and a place from which we are invited, each day, to make a new beginning.

Ron Rolheiser San Antonio, Texas www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

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Joint Statement of Commitment

of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

(OMI Lacombe Canada and Notre‐Dame‐du‐Cap)

on Documentation Transparency Regarding Residential

Schools June 24, 2021

We are two Catholic religious communities of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (commonly known as the Oblates) and were involved in operating many of the residential schools throughout Canada. The Oblates operated 48 schools, including the Marieval Indian Residential School and the Kamloops Indian Residential School. We remain deeply sorry for our involvement in residential schools and the harms they brought to Indigenous peoples and communities.

We want to reiterate our commitment and intent to disclose all historical documents maintained by us and in our possession, in accordance with all legislation, about our involvement.

With today’s disclosure of the 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School on the lands of the Cowessess First Nation, and the recent disclosure of the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the lands of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, we offer this formal commitment statement.

Consistent with the Oblate Apology, given in 1991, our two Oblate religious communities (OMI Lacombe Canada and Notre‐Dame‐du‐Cap) have worked to make our historical documents available through partnerships with universities, archives and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. While some progress has been made, this disclosure is not complete, and has been complicated by issues of provincial and national privacy laws.

We are not experts in the management and analysis of these historical documents or the complex privacy laws which apply. However, we must

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address these issues, as without a full review of the existing historical documentation from our order’s involvement, the truth of residential schools will not be fully known. Recognising that we are not the appropriate organisations to determine which documents can be released within the law, we are seeking guidance and instruction from expert organisations. And we further acknowledge that delays can cause ongoing distrust,

distress, and trauma to Indigenous peoples across British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the rest of the country.

For this reason, we declare that our commitment to transparency involves the following:

We will disclose and not block access to the historical documents maintained by us and in our possession, as is possible within the law, to establish the truth of what happened in residential schools;

We will seek guidance from and work with First Nations and federal and provincial governments on these matters;

We will work with bishops and other leaders in the Catholic church to support full truth in these matters.

Fr. Ken Thorson, OMI Père Luc Tardif, OMI Provincial – OMI Lacombe Canada Provincial – Notre‐Dame‐du‐Cap

About the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate: The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate were founded in 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod in Aix en Provence, France. The community arrived in Canada in 1841. After their arrival, Oblate priests and brothers worked across Canada and throughout the far north in a variety of areas including, residential schools, parish and retreat ministry, and hospital and prison chaplaincies. OMI Lacombe Canada Province is based in Ottawa, ON, and Notre‐Dame‐du‐Cap Province is based in Richelieu QC.

Media contacts:

OMI Lacombe Canada Province : information@omilacombe.ca

Notre‐Dame‐du‐Cap Province : provincial@omiquebec.com

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THANK YOU This week Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples was blessed to receive several donations of water. With this heat, requests for water was extremely high and there were some emergency cases showing up on the rectory steps. A special THANK YOU to the following people.

Lauren Shaw dropped off water for us. Thank you Lauren for thinking of the people in our community.

Sacred Heart received a carload of water from St. Albert Parish. This donation was much needed.

St. John Bosco Parish donated water for us. Thank you to everyone.

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The lunches you and your

grandchildren made for Sacred Heart to distribute are greatly appreciated.

Thank you Joanne Friedt and

your Grandchildren

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Repairing the security screens for the

basement

windows.

To get the

sleep

necessary to

do all that is

needed, the

cool of the

basement was were he slept. That’s one way to

beat the heat.

Then it was on to digging the holes needed to put

up the security fence. Unfortunately, recently

there have been a number of break in attempts

and a couple of successful ones. This has

necessitated an increase in security. The 6’ metal fence will continue on around

the front of the property.

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If you are interested in helping us meet the diverse needs of the members of our parish, the Catholic Women’s League can be the platform for you.

Within the next month, we are looking to put on a workshop about the CWL. It will probably take place on Saturday after mass and only be a couple of hours. The principles, structure and mandate of the CWL will be the main topics.

This is an opportunity for us to further personalize and make our parish into one reflecting our values and interests.

If you are interested in joining, or attending the workshop for more information, please call any of the following numbers so we can add your name to our list.

Cathy Sommer 587-930-7841 Mary Malloy 780-245-2147 Sacred Heart Office 780-422-3052

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Are you wanting to go on a pilgrimage but not sure what to expect and experience? We invite you to join our HOLY LAND ONLINE INFORMATION SESSION on July 10th (Saturday) from 430 pm - 6:00 pm MST. The online session will be via zoom.

On February 1 - 8, 2022, Archbishop Emeritus Sylvain Lavoie, OMI and Father Susai Jesu, OMI are leading a group on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land , the land of the Bible, the land where Jesus Himself walked, transforming hearts and lives.

In the free info session, we will share with you the Holy Land experience, where you will see the different holy sites where Jesus walked, lived, healed many and where He rose from the dead and hear the stories of the pilgrims who have been there.

To join the session, click on the zoom link below: Topic: Holy Land Info Session

Time: Jul 10, 2021 04:30 PM Edmonton

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89723789385?pwd=dlFyaThENzhvTFVqWldWb2V5RHcvZz09

Meeting ID: 897 2378 9385

Passcode: 484041

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Statement of Archbishop Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton Regarding the Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage 2021

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and following upon the counsel of Alberta Health Services, the Board of Trustees of the Lac Ste Anne Pilgrimage Site has unanimously taken the decision to hold the 2021 pilgrimage virtually, as was done in 2020. The pilgrimage this year will not take place in person.

This is a very sad and difficult decision to make. It was painful not to be able to gather in person last year for our beloved pilgrimage, and we had hoped that this year we could return to our traditional practice. Yet COVID-19 remains with us, now with worrying variants. Furthermore, although the Province has begun its vaccine distribution, nevertheless there will not be a sufficient percentage of the population vaccinated by the time of the pilgrimage for permission to be granted for large outdoor gatherings. Over the course of a few days there can be as many as 30,000 people come on pilgrimage to the Lac Ste Anne site, many of whom are elderly or of poor health. We simply cannot hold this event in person when we know that doing so would risk the health and possibly the life of the people who participate.

We have experience now with holding the pilgrimage virtually, and are prepared to do so again this year. Details will be communicated once they are finalized.

Let’s turn at this moment to Good Ste. Anne. She has a special love for us, and we for her. Our tradition of going to her in prayer when we need healing dates back generations. Let’s ask now for her intercession that God’s blessings come upon all who are ill with the virus or any disease, their families and all who care for them.

Good Ste. Anne, pray for us!

Most Reverend Richard W. Smith Archbishop of Edmonton Chair, Lac Ste. Anne Board of Trustees April 23, 2021

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The parish continues to provide Christian formation and teaching for children and youth to receive the Sacraments of first Eucharist, and Confirmation. Because of the pandemic we will offer classes in small groups on the last Saturdays of the month from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the rectory.

Candidates will attend one afternoon class which prepares them for both first

communion and confirmation. Children who are between seven to

seventeen years of age are welcome. Adults can also receive preparation,

please call the office to meet with Fr. Mark.

Parents or guardians must accompany their children for the classes.

Call the office to register the children. Since space is limited, we will keep

the groups small respecting pandemic restrictions.

The children will then receive their first communion and confirmation at a

Sunday Mass of their choice.

June 26 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm July no prep due to Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage August 28: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm September 25: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm October 30: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm November 27: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm December no prep because of Christmas January 29: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm February 26: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm March 26: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm April 30: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm May 28: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,” Matthew 25.35

To help combat hunger in our parish we provide food hampers for families and serve 50 bag lunches to the

homeless every day. We need your help. On the First Sundays of the month, the food collected at Masses is

used in the hampers, but we quickly run out of sandwich making ingredients. Any donations of sliced bread, sandwich meats and other sandwich garnishes are greatly appreciated. Please call the parish office ahead of time at 780-422-3052 so we can spread out the donations. We also use brown paper bags, sandwich bags, napkins and plastic spoons. As we make this a practice, our Sunday Eucharistic becomes more complete. All donations are gladly accepted, especially peanut butter, canned meat, and canned vegetables. Donations can be brought to mass or dropped off at the church office Monday to Friday during the day.

SACRED HEART NEWS Like to read the bulletin? Want to keep informed about what is

happening in our parish? Why not sign up for the weekly email delivery of our bulletin? Find out how church repairs are going. Know about the special

events going on. Take a look at national events affecting us. See how you can help our parish be a success. You can email sacredheart.firstpeoples@caedm.ca or call 780-422-3052 to be added to the distribution list.

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Prayers for this week (From Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations)

We pray for the independence of the justice, in order that everyone can be treated without prejudice, especially Aboriginal people that have live so much contemp.

We pray for an appropriate training of lawyers in all the legislation concerning the protection of Aboriginal Peoples, as well as in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

We pray for the commitment of all levels of government in the elimination of overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody.

We pray for the amend of the Criminal Code to allow trial judges, upon giving reasons, to depart from mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions on the use of conditional sentences.

We pray for the fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

We pray for the repudiation of concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

We pray for the federal, provincial and territorial government to provide the necessary funding to educate teachers on how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms and how to utilize Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods in classrooms.

We pray for the creation of disseminate prevention programs, education, and awareness campaigns designed for Indigenous communities and families related to violence prevention and combatting lateral violence.

We pray that all governments immediately ensure that Indigenous Peoples have access to safe housing, clean drinking water, and adequate food.

We pray for the establishment of a guaranteed annual livable income for all Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples, to meet all their social and economic needs, and taking into account diverse needs, realities, and geographic locations.

We pray that all provincial and territorial governments enact missing persons legislation.

We pray that federal government considers violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people as an aggravating factor at sentencing, and to amend the Criminal Code accordingly.

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READINGS FOR THE 14TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

FIRST READING

A reading from the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2.3-5)

A spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard one speaking to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a Prophet among them.”

Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 123)

Response: Our eyes look to the Lord, until he has mercy upon us.

To you I lift up my eyes — O you who are enthroned in the heavens — as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master. R.

As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us. R.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. R.

SECOND READING

A reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12.7-10)

Brothers and sisters: Considering the exceptional character of the revelations, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.

Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Thanks be to God.

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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring good news to the poor.

Alleluia

GOSPEL READING

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark. (Mark 6.1-6)

Jesus came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him.

Then Jesus said to them, “A Prophet is not without honour, except in his hometown, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”

And Jesus could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching.

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.