Let no one think that it is God who leads him to do evil, because from the “Father of lights” comes “every precious gift and every perfect gift”.

First Reading: James 1:12-18 The Pharisees and Herod tried to confuse the people's minds about the true Messiah, Jesus. Their influence was evil. The Word of truth generates in us a heart more capable of seeing and understanding God's actions among us. Reading of the letter from Saint James – 12Happy is the man who endures trials. Because once he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13No one, when tempted, should say, “It is God who is tempting me,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted by his own lust, which draws him away and seduces him. 15Next, lust conceives sin and gives birth to it, and sin, once it is complete, gives birth to death. 16My dear brothers, do not be deceived. 17Every precious gift and every perfect gift comes from above; They come down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18Of his own free will he begat us, through the Word of truth, that we should be, as it were, the firstfruits of his creatures. - Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: 93(94) Blessed is he to whom you teach your law! 1. It is happy, O Lord, whoever you train † and educate in the ways of the Law, / to give relief from anguish. – R. 2. The Lord does not reject his people / and cannot forget their inheritance: / the sentences will return to judgment; / whoever is upright will walk in justice. – R. 3. When I think: “I'm almost falling!”, / your love sustains me, Lord! / When my heart is distressed, / you console and rejoice my soul. – R. Gospel: Mark 8,14-21 Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. Whoever truly loves me will keep my Word and my Father will love him, / and we will come to him (John 14:2). – R. Proclamation of the holy Gospel according to Mark – At that time, 14the disciples had forgotten to take bread. They only had one loaf of bread with them on the boat. 15Then Jesus warned them: “Pay attention and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16The disciples said among themselves, “It is because we have no bread.” 17But Jesus noticed and asked them, “Why do you argue about the lack of bread? Do you still not understand or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 18Having eyes, do you not see, and having ears, do you not hear? Don't you remember 19when I distributed five loaves of bread to five thousand people? How many baskets did you collect full of fragments?” They replied, “Twelve.” 20Jesus asked, “And when I shared seven loaves of bread with four thousand people, how many baskets did you pick up full of fragments?” They replied, “Seven.” 21Jesus said, “And you still do not understand?” – Word of salvation. Reflection: The Pharisees exert influence over the people, teaching them a nationalist ideology: they want, for Israel, a powerful Messiah, dominating over other nations. The Herodians (Herod's followers) want Israel to be superior to other peoples, accepting, for this purpose, an arrogant king (Herod). It is against this mentality that Jesus warns his disciples. These accompany Jesus everywhere and see the great works he performs. Despite the privilege of always being at the Master's side, his disciples remain on the surface; “they have a hardened heart,” like the Pharisees. Hence Jesus’ harsh reprimand: “Do you have eyes and do not see, do you have ears and do not hear?” They only have one loaf of bread in the boat (Jesus and his message), but they don't notice it. They lack nothing.

Let no one think that it is God who leads him to do evil, because from the “Father of lights” comes “every precious gift and every perfect gift”.

First Reading: James 1:12-18 The Pharisees and Herod tried to confuse the people's minds about the true Messiah, Jesus. Their influence was evil. The Word of truth generates in us a heart more capable of seeing and understanding God's actions among us. Reading of the letter from Saint James – 12Happy is the man who endures trials. Because once he has been tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13No one, when tempted, should say, “It is God who is tempting me,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted by his own lust, which draws him away and seduces him. 15Next, lust conceives sin and gives birth to it, and sin, once it is complete, gives birth to death. 16My dear brothers, do not be deceived. 17Every precious gift and every perfect gift comes from above; They come down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18Of his own free will he begat us, through the Word of truth, that we should be, as it were, the firstfruits of his creatures. - Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm: 93(94) Blessed is he to whom you teach your law! 1. It is happy, O Lord, whoever you train † and educate in the ways of the Law, / to give relief from anguish. – R. 2. The Lord does not reject his people / and cannot forget their inheritance: / the sentences will return to judgment; / whoever is upright will walk in justice. – R. 3. When I think: “I'm almost falling!”, / your love sustains me, Lord! / When my heart is distressed, / you console and rejoice my soul. – R. Gospel: Mark 8,14-21 Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. Whoever truly loves me will keep my Word and my Father will love him, / and we will come to him (John 14:2). – R. Proclamation of the holy Gospel according to Mark – At that time, 14the disciples had forgotten to take bread. They only had one loaf of bread with them on the boat. 15Then Jesus warned them: “Pay attention and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16The disciples said among themselves, “It is because we have no bread.” 17But Jesus noticed and asked them, “Why do you argue about the lack of bread? Do you still not understand or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 18Having eyes, do you not see, and having ears, do you not hear? Don't you remember 19when I distributed five loaves of bread to five thousand people? How many baskets did you collect full of fragments?” They replied, “Twelve.” 20Jesus asked, “And when I shared seven loaves of bread with four thousand people, how many baskets did you pick up full of fragments?” They replied, “Seven.” 21Jesus said, “And you still do not understand?” – Word of salvation. Reflection: The Pharisees exert influence over the people, teaching them a nationalist ideology: they want, for Israel, a powerful Messiah, dominating over other nations. The Herodians (Herod's followers) want Israel to be superior to other peoples, accepting, for this purpose, an arrogant king (Herod). It is against this mentality that Jesus warns his disciples. These accompany Jesus everywhere and see the great works he performs. Despite the privilege of always being at the Master's side, his disciples remain on the surface; “they have a hardened heart,” like the Pharisees. Hence Jesus’ harsh reprimand: “Do you have eyes and do not see, do you have ears and do not hear?” They only have one loaf of bread in the boat (Jesus and his message), but they don't notice it. They lack nothing.

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