First Reading

Reading from the second book of Samuel

2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17

In those days, King David gave this order to Joab and the commanders of the army who were with him: “Go throughout the tribes of Israel, from the city of Dan to that of Beersheba, to take a census of the population, so that I may know how many people I have.”

Joab reported the census results to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand men fit for war, and in Judah five hundred thousand. But David’s conscience troubled him for having ordered the census, and he said to the Lord: “I have sinned gravely; but you, Lord, forgive the guilt of your servant, for I have committed a great folly.”

That same night the Lord spoke to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, and said: “Go to David and tell him that I, the Lord, command you to say this: ‘I propose three punishments. Choose one, and I will inflict it.’ ”

In the morning Gad came to David and asked him: “Which punishment do you prefer: three years of famine in your territory; three months of fleeing, pursued by your enemies; or three days of plague in your lands? Think it over and let me know, so that I may reply to the one who sent me.”

David answered: “I am in great distress. But I prefer to fall into the hands of God, who is the Lord of mercy, rather than into the hands of men.” And he chose the plague.

It was the time of the wheat harvest when the Lord sent the plague on Israel from that very morning until the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died. But when the angel of the Lord had already stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to bring the plague there, the Lord took pity and said: “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” At that moment, the angel was near Jerusalem, in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Then King David, distressed by the slaughter, prayed: “It is I, Lord, who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. What guilt have they, who are but sheep? Punish me and my family.”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 

Mark 6:1-6

At that time, Jesus came to his native place with 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 our carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses, of 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 place and 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. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.