FIRST READING
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, Solomon, and show yourself a man.”
A reading from the first Book of Kings (1 Kings 2: 1 – 4.10-12)
When David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.’ “Then David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was firmly established.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 1Chronicles 29:10b.11ab.11d-12a.12bcd
R/. O Lord, you rule over all
Blessed are you, O Lord,
the God of Israel our father,
for ever and ever. R/.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power,
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty;
for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. R/.
R/. O Lord, you rule over all.
You are exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come from you. R/.
You rule over all.
In your hand are power and might;
and in your hand it is to make great
and to give strength to all. R/.
ALLELUIA Mark 1:15
Alleluia. The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“He began to send them out.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:7- 13)
At that time: Jesus called to him the Twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
The Gospel of the Lord
TODAY’S REFLECTION
To run an effective ministry, Jesus selects a team of twelve that we call apostles. An apostle is an apprentice who learns the master’s trade. The apostle or apprentice is expected to, after the completion of his/her training, to be proficient in the master’s trade. Jesus selected twelve men for this apprenticeship so that they continue his works when he might have left. Thus he built the foundation of Christianity. He gave them authority over evil spirits, the major enemy of the children of God. He set them forth on a mission and forbade them to take anything, even a purse or spare clothes, they were allowed only a staff. Why? Because, apostleship demands a life of sacrifice, commitment, and determination, and as the new apostles of today, we should be focused in the purpose of our life, determined in our faith and works and eager to make sacrifice