1st READING
God’s revelation of Himself to us human beings has been a gradual reality. The same is true for us as individuals. It is very rare that God reveals everything in one go. If we knew the totality of God’s will for us it would be too much for us to handle and we would get discouraged. This is one of the reasons why we have to be committed to prayer – in order to grow daily in our understanding of God’s will and purpose for our lives.
Hebrews 8:6-13
6 Brothers and sisters: Now our high priest has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second one. 8 But he finds fault with them and says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they did not stand by my covenant and I ignored them, says the Lord. 10 But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and kinsman, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know me, from least to greatest. 12 For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sins no more.” 13 When he speaks of a “new” covenant, he declares the first one obsolete. And what has become obsolete and has grown old is close to disappearing.
P S A L M
Psalm 85:8, 10, 11-12, 13-14
R: Kindness and truth shall meet.
7 [8] Show us, O LORD, your mercy, and grant us your salvation. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)
G O S P E L
Jesus worked very closely with only a few men in order to prepare them for the ministry of the Gospel after He ascended into heaven. Yes, the Apostles were the chosen few. However, there were also the 72 in Luke’s Gospel and the 70 in Matthew; there are also the many women who accompanied Him in His ministry. There is a role for us all in the work of salvation. Let us seek to discover our part and to perform it as well as we can.
Mark 3:13-19
13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve whom he also named apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons: 16 He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; 17 James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, 19 and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
my reflections
t h i n k : There is a role for us all in the work of salvation. Let us seek to discover our part and to perform it as well as we can.