The 20th of February, 2023 is Monday in the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2023 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: SIR 1:1-10
The first reading from The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus.
All wisdom comes from the Lord, and is with him forever.
Who can count the sand of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity?
Who will search out the height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, the deep, and wisdom?
Wisdom has been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting.
The source of wisdom is God’s word in the highest heaven, and her ways are the eternal commandments.
To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed? Who has known her shrewd counsels?
To whom was the knowledge of wisdom manifested? Who has understood her abundant experience?
There is one wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne: the Lord.
He created her. He saw and measured her. He poured her out upon all his works.
She is with all flesh according to his gift. He gave her freely to those who love him.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 93:1AB, 1CD-2, 5
Response: Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty!
Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty! Yahweh is armed with strength.
R: Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty!
The world also is established. It can’t be moved.
Your throne is established from long ago. You are from everlasting.
R: Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty!
Your statutes stand firm. Holiness adorns your house, Yahweh, forever more.
R: Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty!
Gospel of the Day: MK 9:14-29
From the gospel verse according to Mark.
Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.
Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, greeted him.
He asked the scribes, “What are you asking them?”
One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”
He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has been happening to him?” He said, “From childhood.
Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead, so much that most of them said, “He is dead.”
But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him up; and he arose.
When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”
He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”
