Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading – Sirach 44:1, 9-13

So let us now give praise to godly men, our ancestors of generations past,

There are others who are not remembered, as if they had never lived, they died and were forgotten, they, and their children after them.

But we will praise these godly men, whose righteous deeds have never been forgotten.

Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants;

Their descendants continue to keep the covenant and always will, because of what their ancestors did.

Their family line will go on for ever, and their fame will never fade.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B

R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

 

Alleluia – John 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel – Mark 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem, went into the Temple, and looked round at everything. But since it was already late in the day, he went out to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

The next day, as they were coming back from Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

He saw in the distance a fig tree covered with leaves, so he went to see if he could find any figs on it. But when he came to it, he found only leaves, because it was not the right time for figs.

Jesus said to the fig tree, “No one shall ever eat figs from you again!” And his disciples heard him.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Temple and began to drive out all those who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the stools of those who sold pigeons,

He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.

Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him.

For this reason I tell you: when you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.

And when you stand and pray, forgive anything you may have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive the wrongs you have done.”