He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Collect

O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path, give all who for the faith they profess are accounted Christians the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Am 7:12-15

Go, prophesy to my people.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos

Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos,
   “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
   but never again prophesy in Bethel;
   for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,
   nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
   I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
   Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”

The word of the Lord.

Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14

R. :

℟. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;
   the LORD—for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
   glory dwelling in our land.

℟. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
   justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
   and justice shall look down from heaven.

℟. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
   our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
   and prepare the way of his steps.

℟. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Eph 1:3-14 or Eph 1:3-10

God chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
   who has blessed us in Christ
   with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
   as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
   to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
   in accord with the favor of his will,
   for the praise of the glory of his grace
   that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption by his blood,
   the forgiveness of transgressions,
   in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
   the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
   that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
   to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

In him we were also chosen,
   destined in accord with the purpose of the One
   who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
   so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
   we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
   the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
   were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,
   which is the first installment of our inheritance
   toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

The word of the Lord.

Or: [Shorter Form]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
   who has blessed us in Christ
   with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
   as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
   to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
   in accord with the favor of his will,
   for the praise of the glory of God’s grace
   that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we have redemption by his blood,
   the forgiveness of transgressions,
   in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
   the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
   that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
   to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
cf. Eph 1:17-18

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Mk 6:7-13

He began to send them out.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
   and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
   but a walking stick—
   no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
   but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
   “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
   leave there and shake the dust off your feet
   in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
   and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

Today’s episode presents to us Jesus who calls and sends out the Twelve to continue the mission which He began. Ironically, in the previous passage Jesus is rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, by his own people who heard him teach in their synagogue. They did not accept him because in their eyes he was still “the Carpenter, Mary’s Son”. In today’s account, Jesus warns the twelve that they can be confronted with the same reaction.

This account can be divided into three parts. In the first part (Verse 7), Jesus calls and sends out. These verbs are wonderful! Jesus first calls the Twelve. He calls them each by name because He knows them. He lived with them. They were familiar with each other. Then Jesus sends them out. He does not keep them with him. Now that they have had a lived experience with Jesus, they must proclaim Him in order that through them He can continue to heal and save.

In the second part (verses 8-11) we find a set of instructions that the Twelve must follow. Why does Jesus tell them not to take bread, bag or money? Why does He advise them to carry a staff and to wear sandals, but not to take extra clothing? Can you imagine travelling without taking anything with you? Jesus gave them these directions because their mission did not depend on them, but they were to depend upon God. What they were entrusted with was not theirs, but God’s. It was God Himself who was to provide for them along their journey. He who calls, also sustains. He who sends, also provides. He tells them that they will find those who welcome them as well as those who will reject them … in the same way that Jesus was welcomed as well as rejected. The servant is not greater than his master.
The third and final part (verses 12-13) is a description of the Twelve’s activity during their mission. They preached repentance, cast out demons and healed the sick. God was with them not only by providing for their material needs along the way, but He was also with them providing for them spiritually on their mission.

Prayer

Lord, you call. You call me by name because you know me well. What I have read and what I have been told about you is not enough. I must have an intimate relationship with you. I want to become a close member of your family. Help me to have a personal experience of you in my life … in the silence and hiddenness of the inner room.

Lord, you send. You send me amongst the sheep as well as among the wolves. Be my staff that sustains me when I am tired and afraid.

Before all else, you do not want me to take anything. You do not want me to be burdened. Because self-dependence does not lead me to the destination you desire. The mission is yours, not mine. Lord, help me to trust you in my journey. Help me to leave behind me anything that binds me. Teach me to abandon myself into your hands … and, because I trust you, I have become detached from all self-interest. Because I can hinder myself … not only myself, but I can also be a hindrance to others. Never allow me to proclaim myself instead of proclaiming you. Help me to trust you as your mother Mary trusted you, especially when I find myself on a path that I do not recognise. With the psalmist I reiterate: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me to tranquil streams. He restores my soul.” Amen.

 

Ara l-Qari tal-Ħdud li għaddew