The 18th of February, 2023 is Saturday in the Sixth Week of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2023 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: HEB 11:1-7
The first reading from The Letter to the Hebrews.
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
For by this, the elders obtained approval.
By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11
Response: I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.
R: I will praise your name forever and ever.
One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor, on your wondrous works.
R: I will praise your name forever and ever.
All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power.
R: I will praise your name forever and ever.
Gospel of the Day: MK 9:2-13
From the gospel verse according to Mark.
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.
His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.
A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.
As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.
They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He said to them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?
But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.”
