First Reading is from Romans 4:13-25
13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to
Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the
righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be
the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath;
but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest
on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the
adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham
(for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, ‘I have made you the
father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he
believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things
that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would
become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So
numerous shall your descendants be.’ 19 He did not weaken in faith when
he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he
was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness
of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise
of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had
promised. 22 Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as
righteousness.’ 23 Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written
not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who
believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was
handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our
justification.
Hear the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Gospel reading is from Mark 8:31-38
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this
quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But
turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get
behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but
on human things.’
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and
those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will
save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit
their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those
who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he
comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’
For the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
