＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

Israel was a spreading vine, rich in fruit.

The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; the more his land prospered, the more he adorned his sacred stones. Their heart is divided! They shall pay for it.

Their altars will be thrown down and their sacred stones broken to pieces. Now they say, “We have no king (because we have no fear of God)and what good would a king do us?”

As for the king of Samaria, he has been carried off like foam on water. The idolatrous high places-the sin of Israel – will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will creep over the altars. Then they will say to the mountains:”Cover us,” and to the hills: “Fall on us.”

Plow new ground, sow for yourselves justice and reap the harvest of kindness. It is the time to go seeking Yahweh, until he comes to rain salvation on you.

 

Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Seek always the face of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 10:1-7

Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebe­dee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thad­daeus; Simon, the Cana­anite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.

Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instruction: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

 Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.

  

Gospel Reflection：

A movie on the life of Jesus depicts the calling of the apostles like a pageant or talent competition. As if they emerged victors among contenders or the most qualified among aspirants.

But if we put ourselves inside of each of the twelve, we wonder if there was no fear, doubt, or a thought of refusing the call. There certainly is a sense of privilege being called by God in whatever form of vocation we have.

However, we know that the calling is not an awarding but a forwarding. People in forwarding business are dedicated to the delivery of ordered goods well and on time.

The calling of the twelve is about delivering the goods that God sends to His people – or simply, delivering God to people. A calling then is more of an order than an acknowledgment of chosen ones. It entails action and vigilance rather than entitlement.