1ST READING
The first Creation account concludes and shows that the creation
of humanity is the high point of God’s actions. This tells us to prioritize the
dignity of the human person over and above all other concerns. While it is
important to respect Creation and do our best to preserve it for future
generations, still we must always prioritize the legitimate needs of the
people. God gives humanity dominion over Creation – we are responsible for
caring for and using it for our own purposes.
Genesis 1:20 – 2:4
20 God said, “Let the water teem with an abundance
of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the
sky.” And so it happened: 21 God created the great sea monsters and all kinds
of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged
birds. God saw how good it was, 22 and God blessed them, saying, “Be fertile,
multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the
earth.” 23 Evening came, and morning followed — the fifth
day. 24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth all
kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all
kinds.” And so it happened: 25 God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of
cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was.
26 Then God said: “Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds
of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures
that crawl on the ground.” 27 God created man in his image; in the divine
image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth
and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air,
and all the living things that move on the earth.” 29 God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over
the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; 30 and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and
all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants
for food.” And so it happened. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and he
found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed — the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.
2 Since on the seventh day God was finished with
the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he
had undertaken. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. 4 Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation.
P S A L M
Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
3[4]
When I behold your
heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in
place — 4 [5] What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) 5 [6] You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 [7] You have given him rule
over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. (R) 7 [8] All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the
field, 8 [9] The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and
whatever swims the paths of the seas. (R)
GOSPEL
We celebrate today the feast of St. Scholastica, the twin sister
of St. Benedict. She founded the women’s counterpart of the Benedictine Monastic
way of life. In Pope St. Gregory’s Life and Miracles of St. Benedict,
Scholastica was described as the equal of Benedict in holiness. There are about
30,000 men and women following the Benedictine Rule around the world today. We
have much to thank them for in their lives of penance and intercession for the
Church and the world. Let us never forget the men and women who give themselves
in this way for the sake of others.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your
law.
Mark 7:1-13
1 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had
come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2 they observed that some
of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without
carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without
purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have
traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and
beds.) 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a
meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about
you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but
their hearts are far from me; 7 In vain do they worship me, teaching as
doctrines human precepts. 8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to
human tradition.” 9 He went say, “How well you have set aside
the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10 For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and whoever
curses father or mother shall die. 11 Yet you say, ‘If someone
says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’
(meaning, dedicated to God), 12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father
or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your
tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
think: While it is important
to respect Creation and do our best to preserve it for future generations,
still we must always prioritize the legitimate needs of the people.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING
LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special
verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Galatians 1-3
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