Wednesday of week 7 in Ordinary Time

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 4:12-22

Whoever loves wisdom loves life

Wisdom brings up her own sons,
 and cares for those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
 those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.
Whoever holds her close will inherit honour,
 and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,
 and the Lord loves those who love her.
Whoever obeys her judges aright,
 and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her,
 and his descendants will remain in possession of her;
for though she takes him at first through winding ways,
 bringing fear and faintness on him,
plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him,
 and testing him with her ordeals,
in the end she will lead him back to the straight road
 and reveal her secrets to him.
If he wanders away she will abandon him,
 and hand him over to his fate.

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 118(119):165,168,171-172,174-175

The lovers of your law have great peace;
 they never stumble.
I obey your precepts and your will;
 all that I do is before you.

Let my lips proclaim your praise
 because you teach me your statutes.
Let my tongue sing your promise
 for your commands are just.

Lord, I long for your saving help
 and your law is my delight.
Give life to my soul that I may praise you.
 Let your decrees give me help.

Gospel

Mark 9:38-40

You must not stop anyone from working miracles in my name

John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’