“Father of mercy and God of all consolation,

graciously look upon me and impart to me the blessing

which flows from this holy Sacrament.
Overshadow me with your loving kindness.

And let this divine Mystery bear fruit in me."

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

1Kings 2:1-4, 10-12

  When David was about to die,

He gave his son Solomon this instruction,   “I am about to go the way of all creatures. Be strong and show yourself a man.   Keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and walk in his ways. Keep his statutes, his commands, his ordinances and declarations written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do and wherever you go.  

 If you do so, Yahweh will fulfill the promise he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk before me faithfully with their whole heart and their whole soul, you shall always have one of your descendants on the throne of Israel.’

  Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David.   David reigned over Israel for forty years: seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.   So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father and his reign was firmly established.

 

1Chr 29:10, 11ab, 11d—12a, 12bcd

Lord you are exalted over all.

 

 ＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

  Mark 6:7-13

 He called the Twelve to him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over evil spirits.   And he ordered them to take nothing for the journey except a staff; no food, no bag, no money in their belts.   They were to wear sandals and were not to take an extra tunic.

 And he added, “In whatever house you are welcomed, stay there until you leave the place.   If any place doesn’t receive you and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them.”

 So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent.   They drove out many demons and healed many sick peo­ple by anointing them.

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Homo Viator

Gabriel Marcel defines human being as “Homo viator”: journeying person. Human life is a journey with a beginning and a destination. We walk with others, interacting with them. It is also a journey wherein our interiority unfolds - .

Teresa of Avila speaks of spiritual life as acamino (Journey). In today’Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples on a Journey. It will be a journey wherein they will learn how to travel light and with others, carrying only what is most essential; how to enter the lives of others and exit; and how to offer God.

In the first reading, we find David dying and offering his son the wisdom learned,from his journey of life. He reminds that the most essential thing to succeed in this life is fidelity to God. Nothing else counts ultimately in the journey, reall.