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Contemplating today's Gospel

Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
View 1st Reading and Psalm
1st Reading (Amos 7:12-15): 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».
Responsorial Psalm: 84
R/. 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.

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

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.
2nd Reading (Eph 1:3-14): 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.
Versicle before the Gospel (Cf. Ef 1:17-18): 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.
Gospel text (Mk 6:7-13): 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.

“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two”

Fr. Jordi SOTORRA i Garriga (Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, on the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we read in the Gospel that Jesus sends out the Twelve, two by two, to preach. Until now, they have accompanied the Master on the roads of Galilee, but the time has come to begin spreading the Gospel, the Good News: the news that our Father God loves us with an infinite love and has brought us to life to make us happy for all eternity. This news is for everyone. No one should be left out of the liberating teaching of Jesus, no one is excluded from God's Love. It is necessary to reach every corner of the world. We must proclaim the joy of full and universal salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became Man for us, who died and rose again, and who is actively present in the Church.

Equipped with "authority over unclean spirits" (Mk 6:7) and with almost no baggage, the Apostles begin the Church's mission: "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" (Mk 6:8-9). The effectiveness of their evangelizing will not come from human or material influences, but from the power of God and the sincerity, faith, and personal witness of the preacher. "All the enthusiasm, energy and devotion of the evangelizers comes from that source which is the love of God, poured out into our hearts by the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Saint John Paul II).

Today, the Good News has not yet reached everyone, nor with the intensity that is needed. Conversion must be preached, and many evil spirits must be driven out.

Those of us who have received the Good News, do we appreciate it? Are we aware of it? Are we grateful? Let us feel like missionaries, sent out to preach with example —and with words if necessary— so that nobody who comes our way in this life will miss the Good News.

Thoughts on Today's Gospel

  • “To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer” (St. Thomas Aquinas)

  • “Jesus’ instructions and example, with care for the sick, with caring for those who are sick in body and in spirit. It speaks of the healing of illnesses and also of driving out demons, that is, of purifying the human mind, cleansing, cleansing the eyes of the soul that are clouded by ideologies and hence cannot see God” (Benedict XVI)

  • “Christ… fulfills this prophetic office, not only by the hierarchy… but also by the laity. He accordingly both establishes them as witnesses and provides them with the sense of the faith [sensus fidei] and the grace of the word” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nº 904)

July 28th
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

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