READ Mk 6:7-13 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE GOSPEL
UNDERSTAND | By Father Greg Friedman, OFM Being a prophet is not the “ideal job.” If you ever had any doubt, today’s first reading makes it clear that prophets usually didn’t seek out their role. Amos is confronted by the priest Amaziah at the shrine of Bethel in the land of Israel. The prophet has apparently offended both the king and the priests. His reply: He didn’t want the job in the first place! It was God who called him and sent him to speak a message— unpopular though that message might be. While our Gospel for today doesn’t describe the unpleasant side of delivering God’s message, Jesus seems to anticipate that might happen, as he commissions his disciples for a preaching mission. If they aren’t welcomed, he says, they are to leave that place and shake its dust from their feet. Christians today are likewise commissioned to take a message to the world. It seems these days that our message is more and more prophetic, more and more calculated to meet with rejection, in a world that finds our values alien. We may not want the job, but it’s ours. Our great and holy calling is outlined by Paul in the second reading. He says that God’s choice of each of us comes with the power of the Spirit, with whom we are sealed. May we be courageous in our prophetic role.
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DISCUSS | By Father Dan Kroger, OFM According to the first reading (Amos 7:12-15), what did Amaziah, priest of Bethel, tell Amos? Did he tell him to get lost? How did Amos respond to Amaziah? Why did Amos start behaving like a prophet? Did he just decide to do that? Who is Paul praising in this week's second reading (Eph 1:3-10)? What is Paul’s main point? What’s the big deal that Paul is talking about? What did Jesus do according to this week's Gospel (Mk 6:7-13)? Whom did he send? How are they to go? What authority did he give them? What did they preach about? What happened?
ACT Go for a walk either by yourself or with your family or friends. Try to preach to someone this week not through words but rather your actions.