Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), Sunday 11 July 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Sunday July 11, 2021
Sunday July 11, 2021
Fifteenth Sunday of the Year
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery
St. Benedict of Nursia
EKITI: Tomorrow is the 13th Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd Felix Femi Ajakaye, 12th July 2008
Theme of the Sunday: THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL AND MONEY. Should the person who teaches the word of God be paid? The readings today invite us to reflect on what might happen if the bringer of the Gospel draws financial advantages from his preaching. The first shows us the prophet Amos, who tells us that money is a great danger for the freedom of the prophet who announces the word of God. The gospel lists the instructions of Jesus to his disciples. They must avoid even the smallest suspicion that they may be working for their own economic advantage. The second reading speaks of the gratuity of the love of our Father, and is an invitation to share gratuitously with others the gifts we have received.
FIRST READING
“Go, prophesy to my people.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos (Amos 7 :12- 15)
In those days: Amaziah the priest of Bethel said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel. ”’
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 85:9ab and 10.11- 12.13-14 (R. 8)
R/. Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what the Lord God speaks;
he speaks of peace for his people and his faithful.
His salvation is near for those who fear him,
and his glory will dwell in our land. R.
Merciful love and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have kissed.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth,
and justice look down from heaven. R.
R/. Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.
Also the Lord will bestow his bounty,
and our earth shall yield its increase.
Justice will march before him,
and guide his steps on the way. R.
SECOND READING
“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.*
In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
The word of the Lord. *
ALLELUIA Ephesians 1:17-18
Alleluia. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“He began to send them out.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:7-13)
Jesus called to him the Twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
God chose us in Christ.
PRIEST: My brothers and sisters just as Jesus sent out his apostles, he also sends us to preach his gospel. Let us ask the Lord for all the graces which such a mission requires.
READER:
FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, (pause) may her preaching not be confined to Christians but reach our to everyone, so that she may fulfill her Lord’s command, who wishes that no one should be lost. (pause) Lord, give us the grace; to be your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.
FOR THOSE WHO REPRESENT US IN GOVERNMENT (pause) may they serve all the people with integrity, and have the courage of their Christian convictions, even when these go against party politics. (pause) Lord, give us the grace; to be your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.
FOR MISSIONARIES WHO HAVE FEW MATERIAL RESOURCES, (pause) may they appreciate that, in their poverty, Christi is calling them in a special way As he did the first apostles, And may we help them by our prayers And practical assistance. (pause) Lord, give us the grace; to be your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.
FOR A SENSE OF MISSION IN THE COMMUNITY, (pause) may we bring Christ’s saving gospel to all those whom we meet, not trusting in our own strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. (pause) Lord, give us the grace; to be your witnesses we pray Oh Lord.
We pray in silence for our private petitions to God our Father, who cares for us.
PRIEST: Father, for the mission you give us, and the graces to fulfill it, we make our prayers. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today’s Reflection
Amos was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees with no prophetic lineage or experience. Amos preached against the injustice and the oppression of the poor by the rich and powerful class. Amazia, the priest of Bethel, asked him to go away and not to preach. Amos in reply tells the priest of his humble origin, but that he came with an accreditation from God to ‘go and prophesy’. In the gospel Jesus summons the twelve apostles and sends them out with a mandate to preach, to heal and to drive out evil spirits. They were mostly uneducated fisher folk. Amos and the apostles received their authority from God who chose and sent them. They are ambassadors of God, acting on his behalf. They had to face challenges and oppositions. Yet the result of their mission was amazingly successful because they trusted in and acted on behalf of the one who called and sent them. They remained faithful to him regardless of all opposition. The secret of their success is explained by Saint Paul, in his Christological hymn of blessing: “Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…. Thus he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love.”
Today’s Saint and Quote: St. Benedict of Nursia – July 11th
– He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.
– Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.
Personal Devotional
“Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers beak in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy. Matt. 6:19
– I renounce every worldly attachment, soul-tie in the name of Jesus Christ.
– Father, I humbly ask that you grant me the grace of unshakable faith in you, in Jesus name
Let Us Pray
In Psalm 34:18, the scripture says, “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged and saves those who have lost all hope.” Father, come to my aid concerning the following (mention them)
And grant me your grace, give me a heart to be charitable around me as I lay up treasure for myself in heaven.