Saturday of week 7 in Ordinary Time, or Saint David, Bishop
, or Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 17:1-13

Their ways cannot be hidden from his sight

The Lord fashioned man from the earth,
 to consign him back to it.
He gave them so many days’ determined time,
 he gave them authority over everything on earth.
He clothed them with strength like his own,
 and made them in his own image.
He filled all living things with dread of man,
 making him master over beasts and birds.
He shaped for them a mouth and tongue, eyes and ears,
 and gave them a heart to think with.
He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
 and revealed to them good and evil.
He put his own light in their hearts
 to show them the magnificence of his works.
They will praise his holy name,
 as they tell of his magnificent works.
He set knowledge before them,
 he endowed them with the law of life.
Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
 and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
He said to them, ‘Beware of all wrong-doing’;
 he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour.
Their ways are always under his eye,
 they cannot be hidden from his sight.

Psalm or canticle

Psalm 102(103):13-18

As a father has compassion on his sons,
 the Lord has pity on those who fear him;
for he knows of what we are made,
 he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
 he flowers like the flower of the field;
the wind blows and he is gone
 and his place never sees him again.

But the love of the Lord is everlasting
 upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to children’s children
 when they keep his covenant in truth.

Gospel

Mark 10:13-16

It is to such as these little children that the kingdom of God belongs

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.