Lectionary Readings for the 23rd Sunday of the Year, Year B

Readings, Responsorial Psalm and Gospel

Reading I, Is 35, 4-7

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Then the ears of the deaf shall be opened and
the tongues of the dumb speak.

Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be
strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes
with vindication; with divine recompense he
comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the
blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the
tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst
forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools, and the
thirsty ground, springs of water.
The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm, Ps 146, 7. 8-9. 9-10. R. v. 2

R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

1. The God of Jacob keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets captives free. R.

2. The Lord gives sight to the blind;
the Lord raises up those that were bowed down.
The Lord loves the just;
the Lord protects strangers. R.

3. The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The Lord shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. R.

Reading II, Jas 2, 1-5

A Reading from the Letter of James
Has not God chosen the poor of the world to
inherit the kingdom?

My brothers, your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
glorified must not allow of favoritism. Suppose
there should come into your assembly a man
fashionably dressed, with gold rings on his
fingers, and at the same time a poor man dressed
in shabby clothes. Suppose further you were to
take notice of the well-dressed man and say,
"Sit right here, please;" whereas you were to
say to the poor man, "You can stand!" or "Sit
over there by my footrest." Have you not in a
case like this discriminated in your hearts?
Have you not set yourselves up as judges who
hand down corrupt decisions? Listen, dear
brothers. Did not God choose these who are
poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in
faith and heirs of the kingdom he promised
to those who love him?
The Word of the Lord.

Gospel, Mk 7, 31-37

Alleluia Jn 15, 15
R. Alleluia. I call you friends, says
the Lord, for I have made known to you all
that the Father has told me. R. Alleluia.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel, According to Mark
He has made the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

Jesus left Tyrian territory and returned by way of
Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the
Ten Cities. Some people brought him a deaf man who
had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his
hand on him. Jesus took him off by himself away from
the crowd. He put his fingers into the man's ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked
up to heaven and emitted a groan. He said to him,
"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!"). At once the
man's ears were opened; he was freed from the
impediment, and began to speak plainly. Then he
enjoined them strictly not to tell anyone; but the
more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed
it. Their amazement went beyond all bounds: "He has
done everything well! He makes the deaf hear and the
mute speak!"
This is the gospel of the Lord.

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