Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jas 1:1-11
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.” For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76 (R.77a)
R. Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I hold to Your promise. R.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me Your statutes. R.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn Your statutes. R.
The law of Your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R.
I know, O LORD, that Your ordinances are just,
and in Your faithfulness You have afflicted me. R.
Let Your kindness comfort me
according to Your promise to Your servants. R.
Gospel – Mk 8:11-13
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from Him a sign from Heaven to test Him. He sighed from the depth of His spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then He left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
Featured Saints
Blessed Humbeline of Jully, prioress (†1136). Convinced to abandon the pleasures of the world by her brother, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, she entered the monastery of Jully-les-Nonnains, near Troyes, France as a simple nun, with her husband’s permission. She later became prioress of the community.
St. Meletius, bishop (†381). He was exiled several times for defending the precepts from the Council of Nicaea. He died while presiding over the First Ecumenical Council of Constantinople. His holiness merited the praise of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Nyssa.
St. Anthony Kauleas, bishop (†901). Patriarch of Constantinople, he worked to consolidate peace and unity in the Church, unsettled by the Photian schism.
St. Benedict of Aniane, abbot (†821). Educated in the court of Pepin the Short, he became a monk under the Benedictine rule and promoted the restoration of monastic observance throughout France and Germany
St. Saturninus and companions, martyrs. Known as the Martyrs of Abitinae, a town in Northern Africa, under Roman rule. They were imprisoned, tortured and killed in 304 during the persecution of Diocletian.
St. Ludan, pilgrim (†1202). Native of Scotland, the son of Prince Hildebold, he cared for the sick and built hospitals and orphanages. He died in Northeim, Germany, while on pilgrimage to the Basilicas of the Apostles.
Blesseds Thomas Hemerford, James Fenn, John Nutter, John Munden and George Haydock, priests and martyrs (†1584). Disemboweled alive at Tyburn, London, during the reign of Elizabeth I.
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