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Today's Readings
Reading I
Jas 3:1-10
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for
you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall
short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he
is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits
into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their
whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are
so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very
small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. In the same
way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions.
Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue
is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice,
defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives
on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and
bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed
by the human species, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a
restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and
Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of
God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and
sisters, this need not be so.
Responsorial Psalm
12:2-3, 4-5, 7-8
R. (8a) You will protect us, Lord. Help, O LORD! for no one
now is dutiful; faithfulness has vanished from among the children of
men. Everyone speaks falsehood to his neighbor; with smooth lips
they speak, and double heart. R. You will protect us, Lord.
May the LORD destroy all smooth lips, every boastful tongue,
Those who say, “We are heroes with our tongues; our lips are our
own; who is lord over us?” R. You will protect us, Lord. The
promises of the LORD are sure, like tried silver, freed from dross,
sevenfold refined. You, O LORD, will keep us and preserve us always
from this generation. R. You will protect us, Lord.
Gospel
Mk 9:2-13
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain
apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his
clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could
bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they
were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one
for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew
what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a
shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my
beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, the disciples
no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming
down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had
seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from
the dead meant. Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that
Elijah must come first?” He told them, “Elijah will indeed come
first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the
Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever
they pleased, as it is written of him.”
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