May 30, 2015

Reading

Sirach 51: 12- 20

51:12 For you rescue those who persevere for you, O Lord, and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.

51:13 You exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I made supplication that death would pass away.

51:14 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, so that he would not abandon me in the day of my tribulation, nor in the time of arrogance without assistance.

51:15 I will praise your name unceasingly, and I will praise it with thanksgiving, for my prayer was heeded.

51:16 And you freed me from perdition, and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.

51:17 Because of this, I will give thanks and praise to you, and I will bless the name of the Lord.

51:18 When I was still young, before I wandered astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

51:19 I asked for her before the temple, and even to the very end, I will inquire after her. And she flourished like a newly-ripened grape.

51:20 My heart rejoiced in her. My feet walked in the right path. From my youth, I pursued her.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Mark     11: 27-33

11:27	And they went again to Jerusalem. And when he was walking in the temple, the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, and the elders approached him.
11:28	And they said to him: “By what authority do you do these things? And who has given you this authority, so that you would do these things?”
11:29	But in response, Jesus said to them: “I also will ask you one word, and if you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
11:30	The baptism of John: was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.”
11:31	But they discussed it among themselves, saying: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
11:32	If we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people. For they all hold that John was a true prophet.”
11:33	And answering, they said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And in response, Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”