Week Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children   

*** 1st Reading ***

Hebrews 8:6-13

 Now, however, Jesus enjoys a much higher ministry

In being the mediator of a better covenant, founded on better promises. If all had been perfect in the first covenant, there would have been no need for another one. Yet God sees defects when he says:

The days are coming—it is the word of the Lord—when I will draw up a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They did not keep my covenant, and so I myself have forsaken them, says the Lord.

 But this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel in the days to come: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people

 None of them will have to teach one another or say to each other: Know the Lord, for they will know me from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their sins and no longer remember their wrongs Here we are being told of a new covenant; which means that the first one had become obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging is soon to disappear.

 

Ps 85:8 & 10, 11-12, 13-14

Kindness and truth shall meet.

 

**** Gospel ****

Mark 3:13-19

 Then Jesus went up into the hill country and called those he want­ed and they came to him. So he appointed twelve to be with him; and he called them apostles. He wanted to send them out to preach, and he gave them authority to drive out demons.

These are the Twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John his brother, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, which means “men of thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bar­tholo­mew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Al­pheus, Thaddeus, Si­mon the Cananean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

 

Gospel Reflection

The ministry is becoming big for one man alone. So Jesus called His disciples and from them selected the Twelve who would be His closest collaborators. He would share with them the burden of spreading the good news.

Collaboration is a good way to expand the reach of the ministry. Though it is hard, that is the only way to minister to so many people. Jesus knew that with Him alone, He could only reach to as many people.

But with others, the ministry will expand. And so, the Son of God, the most powerful who can effect anything He wants welcomed human collaborators to Help Him in His task.