St. Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)

February 23, 2022

Saints

Daily Readings:

First Option

  • First Reading

    James 4:13-17

    13Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain"; 14whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that." 16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 49:2-3, 6-11

    1Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2both low and high, rich and poor together! 5Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 6men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, 8for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, 9that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit. 10Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.

  • Gospel

    Mark 9:38-40

    38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40For he that is not against us is for us.

Second Option

  • First Reading

    Revelation 2:8-11

    8"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: `The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9"`I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.'

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17

    2Incline thy ear to me, rescue me speedily! Be thou a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress; for thy name's sake lead me and guide me, 5Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. 7I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love, because thou hast seen my affliction, thou hast taken heed of my adversities, 15My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors! 16Let thy face shine on thy servant; save me in thy steadfast love!

  • Gospel

    John 15:18-21

    18"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.