First Reading

First reading: First Book of Kings 

1 Kings 11, 29-32; 12, 19

At that time, Jeroboam, servant of Solomon, left Jerusalem and met the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh on the road; Ahijah was wearing a new cloak.

The two of them were alone in the field. Ahijah took his cloak, tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam: «Take ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I am going to tear the kingdom away from Solomon. I will give you ten tribes, and to Solomon I will leave only one tribe in consideration of my servant David and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel'».

And from that day to this, Israel has been separated from the house of David.

Gospel

Reading of the holy gospel according to Saint Mark 

Mark 7, 31-37

At that time, Jesus left the region of Tyre and went around by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment, and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, «Ephphatha!» (that is, «Be opened!»). He immediately regained his hearing and his speech impediment was removed; he spoke plainly.

He ordered them to tell no one. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, «He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.»