15th  SUNDAY  OF  THE  YEAR           So they went out and preached that all should repent ENTRANCE ANTIPHON In my justice I shall see your face, O Lord; when your glory appears, my joy will be full. PENITENTIAL RITE Dear sisters and brothers, God wants every human being to be saved. Christ the Son of God could have spread his Gospel of peace and love, his message of eternal salvation, to the whole world without human help. Yet he chose the weaker but the more human way of evangelizing people—he sent their own fellowmen to bring them the message. Let us ask ourselves, as partners in Jesus’ mission of saving the world, are we contributing our share for the evangelization? For our failures, let us be sorry and ask mercy and pardon from the Lord. I confess... Glory to God... OPENING PRAYER Let us pray: God our Father, your light of truth guides us to the way of Christ. May all who follow him reject what is contrary to the gospel. We ask this through... FIRST READING (The false prophets who were numerous in Israel earned their living by preaching their own words and not those of God. They were sycophants of the king. Amaziah who was not better than they, implied that Amos was also a professional seer—prophesying to earn his livelihood. Hence the expulsion order.) A reading from the book of Amos (7:12-15) Amaziah 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’.” This is the Word of the Lord PSALM (84) Response: Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help. I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace, peace for his people. His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land. R./ Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven. R./ The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit. Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps. R./ SECOND READING (Written from Rome, Paul reminds his Ephesian converts to continue to be faithful to the teaching he had given them. God the Father has “blessed” us, has made us fortunate beneficiaries of his, because Christ has established a new brotherhood, and also made us all children of God.) A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the 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. This is the Word of the Lord ACCLAMATION (Jn 10:27) Alleluia! Alleluia! My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them and they follow me. Alleluia! GOSPEL (Jesus sends out his chosen Apostles on a temporary mission; two by two they were to go to the neighbouring villages and towns preaching repentance, casting out demons and healing the sick. They were to trust absolutely in God’s providence.) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St 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. This is the Gospel of the Lord I believe in God,/the Father almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth./ I believe in Jesus Christ,/his only Son, our Lord./ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary./He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was crucified, died, and was buried./He descended to the dead./On the third day he rose again./He ascended into heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of the Father./He will come again to judge the living and the dead./I believe in the Holy Spirit,/the holy catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and the life everlasting./ Amen. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Cel: Beloved in Christ, God our loving Father through His Son has chosen us to be his own. This choice shows His divine love and understanding of weak human nature. As wounded and broken people, in faith let us ask the Father to heal us and make us whole, saying: Response: Lord, by the wounds of Christ, heal us and make us whole. 1. We pray for Pope, Bishops, Clergy and Religious; that they as healers in this broken world, be healed first so that they may heal others through their ministries. R./ 2. We pray for all those who are suffering from physical, mental and emotional illness; Lord, have mercy on them and may they experience your healing touch. R./ 3. We pray for those who are afflicted by demons, diabolic possession and suffering from mental disturbances; that they may be freed of all evil powers and bondages, and be filled with joy and peace. R./ 4. We pray for all those who are actively engaged in the ministry of proclaiming the Word and healing; that they may use their gifts and charisms for the wellbeing of all and glorify God in all they do or say. R./ 5. We pray for our motherland; that all the citizens of India welcome Jesus’ message of eternal salvation by repenting for their sins and that God’s kingdom may be established in their hearts. R./ (Pray for local and personal needs) Cel: Merciful and loving Father, you have chosen and consecrated us to be your missionaries in today’s world and to bring the Gospel of salvation to all people. Touch the hearts and minds of the hostile people who resist, oppose and refuse to accept the saving message; grant them the grace to believe in Jesus as the Saviour of humanity. We make this prayer in the holy name of Jesus. PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS Lord, accept the gifts of your Church. May this eucharist help us grow in holiness and faith. We ask this... PREFACE (P 32) Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. By his birth we are reborn. In his suffering we are freed from sin. By his rising from the dead we rise to everlasting life. In his return to you in glory we enter into your heavenly kingdom. And so, we join the angels and the saints as they sing their unending hymn of praise: All: Holy, holy, holy... COMMUNION ANTIPHON Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live in me and I in him, says the Lord. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Lord, by our sharing in the mystery of this eucharist, let your saving love grow within us. Grant this…               Liturgy & Life Sadhu Sundar Singh is an excellent example of what today’s gospel describes as our ‘pilgrim mission’. Sadhu Sundar Singh, a Sikh, was born in 1889 in the village of Rampur in North India. He attended a mission school and was earlier fiercely anti-Christian. He reportedly burnt a Bible to protest against Christian teachings at school. One night he had a vision of Jesus asking him, “Why do you persecute me? I gave my life for you upon the cross!” Aged 16, he was baptized in the Anglican Church and became an itinerant preacher. Clothed in saffron, he walked from village to village preaching in parables about Jesus and his message of salvation. Jesus is not well received in his hometown. Rejected by his own people, Jesus starts to teach in the neighbouring villages. He seeks to complete his mission by sending his apostles to announce the good news. Going ‘two by two” (v.7) is a traditional custom of the Jewish people to bring an important message. Like the prophet Amos, the chosen disciples of Jesus have to carry the word of God as a challenge to others. In that mission the disciples have the authority and the power of Jesus. Jesus calls his disciples not only to be prophets but also to be that can be termed ‘pilgrim missionaries’. If they are truly to be ‘on the move’ and committed to God’s ‘kingdom movement’ then the disciples must be unencumbered by baggage. The messengers of the kingdom are to travel light, taking only what is essential. The mission has to be carried out with simplicity and poverty. They are not to rely on their own resources but on the authority that has been given to them and the hospitality that will be offered them. With no bread and no money, they have to depend on the kindness of others: that vulnerability makes their message their real resource. If they have bread to eat, it means that people are not only hospitable to them but to the word they preach. If they are not accepted, they have no option but to move on. And when a town rejects their message, the disciples are to shake the dust from their feet. For it is not only the message that is being tested, but the messenger, too. The poverty of the messengers is a condition required by the message itself. If there is something difficult in the lives of Christians and of the Church, it is precisely this. We tend to take precautions and security measures, to settle in and enjoy privileges which, paradoxically, may come in our society from the evangelizing task itself. But the Lord’s call is permanent, and it brings us to the source and the meaning of the mission. Today’s readings call us to examine our missionary endeavours as individuals and as Church. Today, Christianity is being defamed by the powerful media; hostility towards missionaries is growing in our country. Have we responded wisely and effectively? Given the current anti-Christian movements, can’t we reorient our mission movement? Practice of our evangelizing role will enable us to give a testimony leading to conversion (Mk 6:12). Jesus altered history with some ‘Twelve’ equipped with only walking sticks and sandals. Similarly, Sadhu Sundar Singh worked wonders in his times. —Fr Sebastian Kattackal, ssp July 2009  READINGS OF THE WEEK Psalter Week 3 13 Mon (W) St Henry, Ex 1:8-14,22/ Ps 123:1-3,4-6,7-8/ Mt 10:34-11:1 14 Tue (W) St Camillus, Ex 2:1-15a/ Ps 68:3,14,30-31,33-34/ Mt 11:20-24 15 Wed (W) St Bonaventure (mem) Ex 3:1-6,9-12/ Ps 102:1-2,3-4,6-7/ Mt 11:25-27 16 Thu (W) Our Lady of Mount Carmel Ex 3:13-20/ Ps 104:1&5,8-9,24-25,26-27/ Mt 11:28-30 17 Fri (G) Ex 11:10-12,14/ Ps 115:12-13,15-16,17-18/ Mt 12:1-8 18 Sat (G) Ex 12:37-42/ Ps 135:1&23-24,10-12,13-15/ Mt 12:14-21