FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 2:18-24)
“They become one flesh.”
The LORD God said, “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” so out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “this at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.” Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 128:1-2.3.4-5.6 (R. see 5)
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
You will be blessed and prosper. R.
Your wife like a fruitful vine
in the heart of your house;
Your children like shoots of the olive
around your table. R.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Sion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper
all the days of your life! R.
May you see your children’s children.
On Israel, peace! R.
SECOND READING
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 2:9-11)
“He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin.”
Brethren: we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA
1 John 4:12
Alleluia. If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 10:2-16)
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
At that time: Pharisees came up and in order to test Jesus asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.” But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” *
And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Marriage is a sacred bond of unity.
PRIEST: Jesus Christ instituted the sacraments of marriage and endowed it with all the graces by which a man and woman grow in true love, and, if so blessed, raise up a Christian family to God’s glory. We ask the Lord for the graces which married couples need in today’s world.
READER:
FOR THE LEADERS AND TEACHERS IN THE CHURCH, (pause) may they keep before the eyes of the faithful the true dignity of marriage, and may priests and counselors help especially those who are preparing for the sacrament, or whose marriage has run into difficulties. (pause) Lord, hear us; and bless family life we pray Oh Lord.
FOR THE LEADERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, (pause) may they show their appreciation of marriage in society by helping couples to stay together, and avoiding laws which would encourage their separation. (pause) Lord, hear us; and bless family life we pray Oh Lord.
FOR DIVORCED HUSBANDS OR WIVES, (pause) may their lives be filled with serenity as they find the courage to go forward again in life, grateful for the past in so far as it has helped them to grow in an understanding of marriage and of themselves. (pause) Lord, hear us; and bless family life we pray Oh Lord.
FOR ALL SINGLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY (pause) may they see their single lives not in terms of not being married but as a positive grace by which they follow the example of Christ himself.
(pause) Lord, hear us; and bless family life we pray Oh Lord.
In silence, we make our private petitions to God, the Father of everyone.
PRIEST:
Father, as members of the Christian family who are conscious of the sacred calling of marriage, we confidently make our prayers to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.