First Reading (Amos 7,12-15)
Reading of the Prophecy of Amos.
In those days, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, said to Amos: “Seer, go out and seek refuge in Judah, where you can earn your bread and practice prophecy; but in Bethel you must not insist on prophesying, because there is the sanctuary of the king and the court of the kingdom.” Amos answered Amaziah, saying, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; I am a herder of cattle, and I cultivate sycamore trees. The Lord called me while I was herding the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go and prophesy to Israel, my people'”.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Reading of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
Blessed be God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with all the blessing of His Spirit by virtue of our union with Christ in heaven. In Christ, he chose us, before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and blameless under his gaze, in love. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, according to the decision of his will, to the praise of his glory and the grace with which he filled us in his Beloved. By his blood, we are freed. In Him, our faults are forgiven, according to the riches of His grace, which God has poured out profusely upon us, opening us to all wisdom and prudence. He made known to us the mystery of his will, the benevolent plan that he determined in advance in himself, to bring to fullness the established time and to recapitulate in Christ the entire universe: everything that is in the heavens and everything that is on the earth. Earth. In Him we also receive our share. According to the plan of the one who conducts everything according to his will, we were predestined to be, for the praise of his glory, those who beforehand placed their hope in Christ. In him you also heard the word of truth, the gospel that saves you. In Him, moreover, you believed and were marked with the seal of the promised Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance for the redemption of the people he acquired, to the praise of his glory.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 6,7-13)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus called the twelve, and began to send them two by two, giving them power over unclean spirits. He recommended that they take nothing for the journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money on his waist. He ordered them to wear sandals and not to wear two tunics. And Jesus further said: “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave. If somewhere they do not welcome you, nor want to listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust from your feet, as a testimony against them!” Then the twelve left and preached that everyone should convert. They cast out many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them with oil.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, good morning. We begin our reflection today with a question: what is our mission in this world? Sometimes we can feel small and insignificant in the face of the challenges and needs of the world around us. However, today’s readings remind us that each of us has been called by God, chosen and sent with a specific mission. Let’s explore what these readings teach us about our Christian vocation and mission.
In the book of the prophet Amos, we find a powerful and challenging scene. Amos, a simple shepherd and sycamore grower, is confronted by the priest Amaziah, who accuses him of plotting against the king and orders him to leave Bethel. Amos responds with humility and courage: “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet. I am a shepherd and I grow sycamore trees. But the Lord took me away from the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ .”
This passage teaches us that God chooses and calls ordinary people to carry out his work. Amos was not a professional prophet, but God called him and gave him the mission to speak on his behalf. It reminds us that God can call us regardless of our position or ability. We don’t need to be great scholars or leaders to be used by God; we just need to be willing to listen and obey his call.
In the second reading, from the Letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul reminds us of the great blessing and privilege of being chosen by God: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, in heaven, in Christ.” Paul speaks of our predestination, of being chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before God. He emphasizes that we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit, the pledge of our inheritance.
This reading calls us to recognize the depth of God’s love and plan for us. We were chosen and called to a life of holiness and communion with God. This should fill our hearts with gratitude and motivate us to live up to this great calling. We must remember that our identity and mission come from God, not the world. We have been redeemed and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and this enables us to live as sons and daughters of God.
In Mark’s gospel, we see Jesus sending the twelve apostles on a mission. He gives them authority over unclean spirits and instructs them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money. Jesus sends them out two by two, giving them specific instructions on how to proceed on their journeys: “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave. If somewhere they do not receive you or listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust feet as a testimony against them.”
This passage teaches us several important lessons about Christian mission. First, Jesus sends His disciples out in community, two by two. The Christian mission is not a solitary task; we are called to work together, supporting each other. This reflects the community nature of the Church, where each member contributes their gifts and talents for the common good.
Second, Jesus instructs His disciples to trust in God’s providence. By not taking extra supplies, they learned to depend completely on God and the hospitality of those to whom they were sent. It challenges us to rely more on God and less on our own abilities and resources. When we place ourselves in God’s hands, He provides everything we need to fulfill our mission.
Third, Jesus teaches about the importance of receptivity. He tells the disciples to shake the dust off their feet if they are not received. This is not an act of contempt, but a testimony to the seriousness of the gospel message. It also reminds us that not everyone will accept Christ’s message, and that we should not become discouraged or insist, but continue our mission with those who are open and receptive.
Reflecting on these three readings, we are called to recognize that we all have a mission given by God. Just as Amos was called from his simple life to be a prophet, and just as the apostles were sent with clear and simple instructions, so we are called to witness to God’s love and grace in our daily lives.
We can start by asking: how can I live my mission today? Maybe it’s through simple acts of kindness, a smile, a word of encouragement, or helping someone in need. It can be through our work, offering it to God and seeking to do everything with integrity and love. It can be in our family, being an example of faith and compassion.
Let us think of our lives as a great tapestry that God is weaving. Every thread, every moment, every decision is part of a great plan. We may not see the whole picture, but we trust that God is working in and through us to create something beautiful. Each of us is a unique and essential thread in this tapestry, and without us, the picture would be incomplete.
I invite everyone to reflect on their own calling and mission. What areas of our lives need to be surrendered more fully to God? How can we be more receptive to his call? What can we leave behind to follow Christ more faithfully? Let us remember that, like Amos, we can be called from where we are, and like the apostles, we are sent to trust in God’s providence.
Let’s now have a moment of silence. Let us close our eyes and ask God for the grace to understand our mission more deeply and the power to respond with faith and courage. May the Holy Spirit enlighten us and strengthen us to live according to God’s calling on our lives.
Lord, we thank You for today’s lessons. Help us recognize and embrace our calling. May we live with gratitude, confidence and courage, being light in the world and witnesses of Your love. May we work together in community, trusting in Your providence and being receptive to the opportunities You give us to serve. Amen.
My brothers and sisters, as we leave here today, let us take with us the certainty that we were chosen and sent by God. May God’s grace accompany us and may we be instruments of His peace and love in the world. Remember, we are called to be light and salt – let us shine and flavor the world with the goodness, justice and love of God. Amen.
