＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24

What you have come to is nothing known to the senses:

Nor heat of a blazing fire, darkness and gloom and storms, blasts of trumpets or such a voice that the people pleaded that no further word be spoken. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said: I tremble with fear.

 But you came near to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem with its innumerable angels. You have come to the solemn feast, the assembly of the firstborn of God, whose names are written in heaven.

There is God, Judge of all, with the spirits of the upright brought to per­fec­tion. There is Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, with the sprinkled blood that cries out more effectively than Abel’s.

 

Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11

O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.

 

＊＊＊＊ 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：

Jesus trains His disciples into collaborative ministry. They have to go out in pairs and work together to spread the Good News. This is perhaps to instill in them that the mission is not personal.

It is a communitarian effort and no one can claim success or failure alone. This is a gift and a challenge. It is always good to have a companion to share the burden and divide the work. But at the same, time, effort is needed that the two of you work in harmony and partnership.

Having a cooperative partner who complements your work with his or her own effort is a gift. Those who are difficult and hard to work with are challenges that must be faced.

Perhaps the reason why Jesus asked them to go missioning with bare provisions is for them to rely on one another. Their shared hardships and poverty would make them closer as collaborators in the ministry.