GLORY TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. GLORY TO YOU LORD.

Look at me, Lord, and have compassion, because I am poor. Consider my misery and suffering and grant your forgiveness to my sins (Ps 24,16.18).

On this day dedicated to praising God, we find in the Eucharistic celebration the much-needed encouragement to continue our mission, amid the afflictions and difficulties of the journey. Even if in clay vessels, our lives are invited to manifest the life of Jesus, who came to show us that he is Lord of all time and all good. Let us celebrate the weekly Easter of the resurrected Christ, welcoming the light of God that shines in our hearts.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Let us welcome the Word of God, which shines within us as a force of life in favor of the afflicted and those most in need. She is a light that warms our hearts and helps us to always choose what is essential in life.

Reading from the book of Deuteronomy – Thus says the Lord: 12“Keep the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13You will work six days and in them you will do all your works. 14The seventh day is the Sabbath, the day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male or female slave, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your animals, nor the foreigner who lives in your cities, so that let your male and female slave rest in the same way as you. 15Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. This is why the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath.” - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 80(81)

Rejoice in the Lord, our strength!

1. Sing psalms, play tambourine, / play soft harp and lyre! / On the new moon, sound the trumpet, / on the full moon, on the solemn feast! – R.

2. For this is a custom in Jacob, / a precept of the God of Israel; / a law that was given to Joseph, / when the people left Egypt. – R.

3. Behold, I hear a voice I do not know: / “I have relieved your back of its burden, / heavy baskets I have taken from your hands. / In anguish you cried to me, and I saved you. – R.

4. There is no strange god in your midst / nor do you worship an unknown god! / For I am your God and your Lord, / who plucked you out of the land of Egypt.” – R.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:6-11

Reading of the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians – Brothers, 6God, who said: “Let light shine out of darkness”, is the same one who made his light shine in our hearts, to make clear the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ. 7Now we bring this treasure in earthen vessels, so that everyone may recognize that this extraordinary power comes from God and not from us. 8We are afflicted on every side, but not overcome with distress; placed in the greatest trouble, but without losing hope; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; overthrown, but not annihilated; 10everywhere and we always carry within ourselves the mortal sufferings of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11Indeed, we who are alive are continually being handed over to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal nature. - Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 2,23-3,6 or 23-28

[The short form is in brackets.]

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Your Word is the truth; / sanctify us in truth. – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark – [23Jesus was passing through some wheat fields on the Sabbath. His disciples began to pluck ears of corn as they walked. 24Then the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look! Why do they do what is not permitted on the Sabbath?” 25Jesus said to them, “Have you never read what David and his companions did when they were in need and hungry? 26How did he enter the house of God, during the time when Abiathar was high priest, eat the bread offered to God and give it to his companions? However, only priests are allowed to eat these breads.” 27And he added: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore, the Son of Man is also lord of the Sabbath.”] 3,1Jesus entered the synagogue again. There was a man there with a dry hand. 2Some were watching him to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so they could accuse him. 3Jesus said to the man with the dry hand, “Get up and stand here!” 4And he asked them, “Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil? Save a life or let it die?” But they said nothing. 5Jesus then looked around them, filled with anger and sadness, because they were hard of heart; and he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was healed. 6When they left, the Pharisees and Herod's supporters immediately plotted against Jesus how they would kill him. – Word of salvation.