Friday of the Third Week of Lent (March 4, 2016)

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/hosea/14:2 HOS 14:2-10 Thus says the LORDandReturn, O Israel, to the LORD, your Godyou have collapsed through your guilt.Take with you words,and return to the LORDSay to him, Forgive all iniquity,and receive what is good, that we may renderas offerings the bullocks from our stalls.Assyria will not save us,nor shall we have horses to mountWe shall say no more, ‘Our god,’to the work of our handsfor in you the orphan finds compassion.”I will heal their defection, says the LORD,I will love them freelyfor my wrath is turned away from them.I will be like the dew for Israelandhe shall blossom like the lilyHe shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,and put forth his shoots.His splendor shall be like the olive treeand his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.Again they shall dwell in his shadeand raise grainThey shall blossom like the vine,and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. I am like a verdant cypress tree”–Because of me you bear fruit!Let him who is wise understand these thingslet him who is prudent know them.Straight are the paths of the LORD,in them the just walk,but sinners stumble in them. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/81and6 PS 81and6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17 R. (see 11 and 9a)I am the Lord your Godand hear my voice. An unfamiliar speech I hearand I relieved his shoulder of the burdenhis hands were freed from the basket.In distress you called, and I rescued you.” R.I am the Lord your Godand hear my voice. Unseen, I answered you in thunderI tested you at the waters of Meribah.Hear, my people, and I will admonish youO Israel, will you not hear me?” R.I am the Lord your Godand hear my voice. There shall be no strange god among younor shall you worship any alien god.I, the LORD, am your Godwho led you forth from the land of Egypt.” R.I am the Lord your Godand hear my voice. If only my people would hear me,and Israel walk in my ways,I would feed them with the best of wheat,and with honey from the rock I would fill them.” R.I am the Lord your Godand hear my voice. Verse Before The Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/matthew/4:17 MT 4:17 Repent, says the Lordthe Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/mark/12:28 MK 12:28-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, Which is the first of all the commandments?”Jesus replied, The first is thisandHear, O Israel!The Lord our God is Lord alone!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul,with all your mind,and with all your strength.The second is thisandYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.There is no other commandment greater than these.”The scribe said to him, Well said, teacher.You are right in saying,He is One and there is no other than he.Andto love him with all your heart,with all your understanding,with all your strength,and to love your neighbor as yourselfis worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”And no one dared to ask him any more questions.