FIRST READING
Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up. Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt; God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars. If they would say, “We have no king”— Since they do not fear the LORD, what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters. The high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars. Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”
“Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
Mark 1:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’“
REFLECTIONS:
Do you believe in the the life-changing power of
the gospel and experience its transforming effect in your life? The core
of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God
is very near! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men
and women who know God's love and mercy, and who willingly obey and honor
God as their Lord and King. In the prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples
(the Lord's Prayer or Our Father), he taught them to pray
for God to reign in their daily lives and in the world around them: May
your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
When Jesus proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom he also demonstrated
the power of the gospel with supernatural signs and wonders. Jesus healed
people who suffered physical, emotional, and mental illnesses. He freed
people from spiritual bondage to sin and demonic powers. Jesus gave his
disciples the same authority he had to heal and set people free from spiritual
bondage. The gospel (which literally means "good news") which Jesus proclaimed
is just as relevant today, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. If
we believe in Jesus and in the power of the gospel, we will experience
freedom, joy, and power to live as his disciples. No one can buy heaven;
but if we know the love and mercy of Jesus, then we already possess heaven
in our hearts! Do you believe that Jesus can change your life and show
you the power of God's kingdom?
Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did
to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed.
In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of
God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals,
had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who
did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages.
Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily
well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would
be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls
us to serve, we must not think we have nothing or very little to offer.
The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for
greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and
through you for his glory?
"Lord Jesus, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take and use what
I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your
name."
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