Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time (Feb. 3, 2016)

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/24and2 2 SM 24and2, 9-17 King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-shebaand register the people, that I may know their number.”Joab then reported to the king the number of people registeredandin Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military servicein Judah, five hundred thousand.Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,and said to the LORDand I have sinned grievously in what I have done.But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,for I have been very foolish.”When David rose in the morning,the LORD had spoken to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, sayingand Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD saysandI offer you three alternativeschoose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.’”Gad then went to David to inform him.He askedand Do you want a three years’ famine to come upon your land,or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you,or to have a three days’ pestilence in your land?Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me.”David answered Gadand I am in very serious difficulty.Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most mercifulbut let me not fall by the hand of man.”Thus David chose the pestilence.Now it was the time of the wheat harvestwhen the plague broke out among the people.The LORD then sent a pestilence over Israelfrom morning until the time appointed,and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died.But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,the LORD regretted the calamityand said to the angel causing the destruction among the people, Enough now! Stay your hand.”The angel of the LORD was then standingat the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.When David saw the angel who was striking the people,he said to the LORDand It is I who have sinnedit is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong.But these are sheep what have they done?Punish me and my kindred.” Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/32and1 PS 32and1-2, 5, 6, 7 R. (see 5c)Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,whose sin is covered.Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,in whose spirit there is no guile. R.Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Then I acknowledged my sin to you,my guilt I covered not.I said, I confess my faults to the LORD,”and you took away the guilt of my sin. R.Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. For this shall every faithful man pray to youin time of stress.Though deep waters overflow,they shall not reach him. R.Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. You are my shelter from distress you will preserve mewith glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. R.Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/john/10:27 JN 10:27 R.Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the LordI know them, and they follow me.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/mark/6and1 MK 6and1-6 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,accompanied by his disciples.When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,and many who heard him were astonished.They said, Where did this man get all this?What kind of wisdom has been given him?What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?And are not his sisters here with us?”And they took offense at him.Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his native placeand among his own kin and in his own house.”So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.He was amazed at their lack of faith.