FIRST READING: Ezekiel 2:2-5
The sons are defiant and obstinate and they shall know that there is a prophet among them.

The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking to me. He said, 'Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, "The Lord says this." Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.'

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ps 122 R/ v.2
Response:         Our eyes are on the Lord
                           till he show us his mercy.

1. To you have I lifted up my eyes,
   you who dwell in the heavens:
   my eyes, like the eyes of slaves
   on the hand of their lords. Response

2. Like the eyes of a servant
   on the hand of his mistress,
   so our eyes are on the Lord
   our God till he show us his mercy. Response

3. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
   We are filled with contempt.
   Indeed all too full is our soul
   with the scorn of the rich,
   with the proud man's disdain. Response
   

SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me.

In view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, 'My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.' So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ's sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

Gospel Acclamation:

Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!

or Lk 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Mark 6:1-6
A prophet is despised only in his own country

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, 'Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?' And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is only despised- in his own country among his own relations and in his own house'; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.