First Reading

Reading from the first book of Kings 8:1-7, 9-13

1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13

In those days, King Solomon assembled all the elders and chiefs of Israel to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Zion, the city of David. All the Israelites gathered around King Solomon for the feast of Tabernacles, which is celebrated in the seventh month of the year. When the elders of Israel arrived, the priests carried the ark of the covenant, and the Levites, together with them, carried the tent of meeting with all the sacred objects that were in it.

King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen before the ark in such numbers that they could not be counted. They brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the sanctuary, the holy of holies, and placed it under the wings of the cherubim, so that the wings of these covered the ark and the poles used to carry it.

The only thing in the ark were the two stone tablets that Moses placed there when the Lord made the covenant with the Israelites as they came out of Egypt.

As soon as the priests came out of that sacred place, a cloud filled the temple, preventing them from continuing to minister, because the glory of the Lord had filled his temple. Then Solomon exclaimed: “The Lord said that he would dwell in a thick cloud. Therefore, Lord, the house that I have built for you with magnificence will be your dwelling.”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark

Mark 6:53-56

At that time, Jesus and his disciples finished crossing the lake and landed at Gennesaret.

As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized him and from all that region they came to him wherever they knew he was, and they brought the sick to him on stretchers.

Wherever he went, in villages, cities, or hamlets, the people placed their sick in the streets and begged him to let them at least touch the hem of his garment; and all who touched him were healed.