First Reading

Reading from the first book of Samuel 

1 Samuel 18, 6-9; 19, 1-7

In those days, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women of all the towns came out to meet King Saul, dancing and singing to the sound of tambourines and harps, and shouting with great joy. As they danced, the women sang in chorus:“Saul has slain his thousands,
but David his ten thousands.”These words fell very badly on Saul, and he became very angry and commented: “They attribute ten thousands to David, and to me only thousands. The only thing left for him is to become king.” From then on, Saul looked at David with resentment.One day, Saul told his son Jonathan and his servants that he had decided to kill David. But Jonathan loved David very much and said to him: “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Be very careful, therefore, tomorrow morning. Withdraw to a safe place and hide. I will go out with my father to the field where you are and speak to him about you; I will see what he thinks and let you know.”Then Jonathan spoke to his father in favor of David and said to him: “Do no harm, my lord, to your servant David, for he has done you no wrong, but great services. He risked his life to kill the Philistine, by which the Lord gave a great victory to all Israel. You yourself saw it and rejoiced. Why, then, do you want to make yourself guilty of innocent blood, killing David without reason?” When he heard this, Saul calmed down and said: “I swear by God that David shall not die.”Then Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he brought him before Saul, and David continued in his service as before.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Mark 

Mark 3, 7-12

At that time, Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeshore, followed by a large crowd of Galileans. A great multitude, coming from Judea and Jerusalem, from Idumea and Transjordan and from the region of Tyre and Sidon, having heard what Jesus was doing, went to where he was.Then Jesus asked his disciples to get him a boat so he could go up in it, because the crowd was so great that they were almost crushing him.In fact, Jesus had cured many, so that all who had some illness threw themselves upon him to touch him. When those possessed by unclean spirits saw him, they threw themselves at his feet and cried out: “You are the Son of God.” But Jesus forbade them to make him known.