FIRST
READING: Hosea
10: 1 - 3, 7 - 8,
12
1
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.
2
Their heart is divided! They shall pay for it. Their altars will be
thrown down and their sacred stones broken to pieces.
3
Now they say, "We have no king (because we have no fear of God)
and what good would a king do us?"
7
As for the king of Samaria, he has been carried off like foam on
water.
8
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."
12
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.
PSALM:
Psalms 105:
2 - 7
2
Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
3
Glory in his holy name; let those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4
Look to the Lord and be strong; seek his face always.
5
Remember his wonderful works, his miracles and his judgments,
6
you descendants of his servant Abraham, you sons of Jacob, his chosen
ones!
7
He is the Lord our God; his judgments reach the whole world.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 10:
1 - 7
1
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.
2
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called
Peter, and his brother Andrew;
3
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;
4
Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray
him.
5
Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instruction: "Do not
visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town.
6
Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.
7
Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.
