The 23rd of February, 2022, Wednesday is the Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2022 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: JAS 4:13-17
The first reading from the Letter from James.
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.”
Yet you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.”
But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.
To him therefore who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 49:1-2, 5-6, 7-9, 10
Response: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together.
R: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
R: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.
For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
R: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
R: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Gospel of the Day: MK 9:38-40
From the gospel verse according to Mark.
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
For whoever is not against us is on our side.”
