First reading
Genesis 2:18–24
A man and his wife become one body.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 127(128)
May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Second reading
Hebrews 2:9–11
The one who sanctifies is the brother of those who are sanctified.
Gospel acclamation
1 John 4:12
If we love one another, God will live in us in perfect love.
Gospel
Mark 10:2–16
What God has united, man must not divide.
Images from the Word
- To divorce
- No longer two
- Gave them his blessing
- Helpmate
- Death for all
Liturgical notes
Now the centre and high point of the entire celebration begins, namely, the Eucharistic Prayer itself, that is, the prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification. The Priest calls upon the people to lift up their hearts towards the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving; he associates the people with himself in the Prayer that he addresses in the name of the entire community to God the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the meaning of this Prayer is that the whole congregation of the faithful joins with Christ in confessing the great deeds of God and in the offering of Sacrifice.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §78
Here in the eucharistic prayer, which is named as the central part of the entire Mass, the priestly people are called to exercise their priesthood in confessing their prayer of praise and in offering the Sacrifice. While the assembly may be silent while the presiding celebrant leads the prayer, their hearts must be engaged so that the prayer may be complete.
‘Within your will, O Lord, all things are established, and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all’
—entrance antiphon