First Reading

1 Kings 3:4-13

In those days, King Solomon went to the sanctuary at Gibeon to offer sacrifices, and he offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar. One night, as he was sleeping in that place, the Lord appeared to him and said: “Solomon, ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

Solomon answered: “Lord, you treated your servant David, my father, with mercy because he conducted himself toward you with loyalty, justice, and uprightness of heart. Moreover, even now you continue to treat him with mercy, for you have made his son succeed him on the throne. Yes, Lord my God, you have willed that I, your servant, succeed my father David on the throne. But I am only a boy and do not know how to act. I am your servant, and I find myself lost in the midst of this people of yours, so numerous that it is impossible to count. Therefore, I ask you to grant me wisdom of heart so that I may know how to govern your people and discern between good and evil. For without it, who will be able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom and said to him: “Because you have asked for this, and not a long life, nor riches, nor the death of your enemies, but wisdom to govern, I grant you what you have asked. I give you a wise and discerning heart, such as has not been before you nor will be after you. I will also grant you what you have not asked: such great glory and wealth that no king will be able to compare with you.”

Gospel

Mark 6:30-34

At that time, the apostles returned and gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For people were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.