First Reading (Hebrews 12,18-19.21-24).
Reading of the Letter to the Hebrews.
Brethren, you have not come closer to a tangible reality: “burning fire and darkness, gloom and storm, sound of the trumpet and mighty voice”, which the listeners begged not to continue. They were so astonished at this spectacle, that Moses said, “I am terrified and afraid.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; of the festive gathering of millions of angels; of the assembly of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven; of God, the Judge of all; of the spirits of the righteous, who have reached perfection; of Jesus, mediator of the new covenant, and of the sprinkling of blood more eloquent than that of Abel.
– 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
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine yourself in front of a mountain engulfed in fire, covered by dark clouds, with trumpet sounds and terrifying voices. This is the scenario that the letter to the Hebrews presents to us today, describing Mount Sinai, where the people of Israel encountered God for the first time on their journey of liberation. An encounter so overwhelming that even Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling!”
But the author of Hebrews quickly takes us to a startling contrast: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem.” What an extraordinary change! From the terror of Sinai to the joy of Zion, from fear to celebration, from distance to intimacy.
This transformation in the way we approach God finds a powerful echo in today’s Gospel, where we see Jesus sending his disciples on a mission. He sends them two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits and specific guidelines for the journey: take no bread, no bag, no money, just a staff and sandals.
The simplicity of these instructions is impressive. Disciples must trust completely in divine providence, stripped of everything except the essentials. This is a powerful picture of the new covenant that Hebrews describes – no longer based on terror and distance, but on trust and intimacy.
Reflect for a moment on this progression: at Sinai, the people could not even touch the mountain under penalty of death. In Zion, we are invited to draw near to “the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than Abel’s.” At Sinai there was darkness and storm; in Zion there are “myriads of angels rejoicing.”
This contrast does not diminish the holiness of God. On the contrary, it reveals how, through Christ, our relationship with the Divine has been fundamentally transformed. We no longer need to tremble in fear before God; we can approach with confidence, yet always with reverence.
The disciples, sent by Jesus, embody this new reality. They leave not with fear, but with authority. Not laden with provisions, but light and confident. Their mission is not to impose terror, but to bring healing and liberation. “They cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with oil.”
This leads us to a deep reflection on our own journey of faith. Many of us still carry an image of God based on Sinai—a distant, terrifying God ready to punish us. But today’s invitation is to get closer to Mount Zion, to experience the intimacy with God that Jesus made possible.
Like the disciples, we are called to a mission. But this mission is not based on fear or intimidation. It is a mission of love, of healing, of liberation. And like the disciples, we are called to trust – to depend not on our own provisions or assurances, but on divine providence.
What unnecessary baggage do we carry on our spiritual journey? What fears still prevent us from approaching God with confidence? What extra provisions do we insist on carrying when Jesus calls us to the simplicity of faith?
The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that we also draw near to “Jesus, mediator of the new covenant.” It is through him that our relationship with God is transformed. It is he who invites us to leave the terror of Sinai and enter the joy of Zion.
And just as the disciples were sent two by two, we are not alone on this journey. We are part of a community of faith, the “assembly of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven.” Together, we can encourage each other to trust more, to fear less, to live the new covenant in Christ more fully.
May we today accept the invitation to approach God with renewed confidence. May we, like the disciples, embark on our mission with simplicity and faith. And may the God of love, not terror, be our strength and our joy on this journey.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
