Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

R. (12b) Lord, you are exalted over all.
"Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"LORD, you are exalted over all.
Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

–   Lord, they were only stammerers and timid people, but you called Moses and Jeremiah to speak out and lead their people. Make us voice your word without hesitation, even to people not well disposed to listen, we pray:

–   Lord, they were only fishers cleaning their nets, but you called your apostles to spread your Good News. Make us fearless to speak your word, we pray:

–   Lord, they are only teachers or parish priests or employees, but you call leaders and members in our communities to tolerate no injustice and to defend the poor. Speak through them and through all of us what is right and good, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, almighty God,
you want your Son to come among us
not with splendor and power,
but in the poverty of the ordinary,
in everyday food and drink.
May we too, not attach ourselves
to things that tie us down
and those that give us a sense of false security.
Keep reminding us
that we are people on the way
to you and to one another
and give us our food for the road,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, our Father,
your Son sent out his disciples
to bring his Good News and healing
to people in their everyday lives.
Help those in the Church who teach and celebrate liturgy
always to link faith and worship
to the realities of daily living,
that the unity of what we are and do
may be the Gospel and life of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Jesus sent out his apostles to bring his message to people. They should not wear useless baggage and depend on the people’s hospitality. They are sent to heal and save. May your lives speak the message of the Gospel, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTIONS:

The twelve Apostles, moving out in pairs on their first mission journey to preach and heal, speak to us of the mission we all share as disciples of Jesus. Just imagine what each of us could do, even today if we were to see ourselves as "sent" to the people closest to us - our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, our co-workers, the people in our parish or community. Just imagine if we could see ourselves as commissioned by Jesus to bring peace and healing to others!

This is our mission today, to which the Lord is sending us: to bring liberation and peace to those who are entrusted to us through the healing love of Jesus. Facing the daily challenges in life, the Word of God calls on us to practice one single virtue: trust in the one who has called you because he has placed tremendous trust in you. It is the trust that Jesus has in you and me that made him place us wherever we are. Do not fail his trust.

Ever felt insecure at home because you thought your parents did not love you or your spouse did not appreciate you? Ever felt rejected in your workplaces or in the Church or in the community by people who matter, people in power? Perhaps these are the securities that the Lord wants us to give up when we choose to be his ambassadors. The Gospel demands us to keep our money bag and personal kit that give us a false sense of security out of sight. Today, our securities could be people’s appreciation, our social status, or our positions. We are invited instead to load ourselves with the Good News and the love of God.

When we choose not to place our trust in our positions and possessions, Jesus promises to equip us with all the necessary powers to heal and to fight against the powers of evil forces and preach the Word of God. At the same time, he gives us a clue that not everything is going to be alright in your mission! There will be people who reject you– perhaps at home, in the Church, in your workplace, wherever you may be. Do not be disheartened. The Message Bible gives the best expression as to how to respond to such rejections: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

When we are out there, the Lord guarantees his constant accompaniment and that’s all the security we need!

==============

Mark 6: 7-13

Sent to serve as missionaries of God's love

Jesus calls us to be part of His missionary Church—a Church that moves, seeks, and serves. We are not meant to remain stagnant but to carry His love and hope into the world. We arecalled to be active disciples, sent to proclaim His message of salvation.

First, Jesus sends us. As members of a missionary Church, our faith is not private or passive. We are called to take risks, reach out to those in need, and fulfil the mission of evangelisation. Ours is not a museum of the past but a vibrant, dynamic Church filled with the Holy Spirit. We embrace this identity and live with a spirit of courage and purpose.

Second, Jesus sends us in pairs. This reflects the heart of the Gospel—love of God and love of neighbour. We are not called to journey alone; we are sent as a community united in love and purpose. Evangelising together not only strengthens our message but also reminds us of the joy and support found in working side by side for God’s Kingdom. Let us combat the temptation of individualism and walk together as witnesses to His love.

Lastly, Jesus calls us to preach. To proclaim God’s love, to remind the world that His sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate sign of hope. Let us share the Good News that God’s presence is always near. With this message of hope, we remind others—and ourselves—that God’s love transforms every situation.

Something good is always on the way. Let us go forth, united in mission, to share the joy of the Gospel with the world.

Sent to serve as missionaries of God's love - Youtube 

Mark 6:7-13

The Lord is my security

In their first mission journey, the apostles moved out in pairs to preach and heal. That's the mission we all share as disciples of Jesus. Imagine if each of us saw ourselves as commissioned by Jesus to bring peace and healing to the world!

The Word of God calls us to practice one single virtue: trust in the one who has called you, because he has placed tremendous trust in you. It is the trust that Jesus has in you and me that made him choose us for his mission. Let us not fail his trust.

Have you ever felt insecure at home because you thought your parents did not love you or your spouse did not value you? Have you ever felt rejected at work, at church, or in your community by those in authority? According to the Gospel, we should keep our money bags and personal kits, which give us a false sense of security, out of sight. Today, our securities can be people's appreciation, our social status, or our positions.

Jesus promises to equip us with all the necessary powers to heal and to fight against the forces of evil, as well as to preach the Word of God when we choose not to place our faith in our worldly securities.

There will be people who reject you at home, in the Church, in your workplace, or wherever you may be. Do not be disheartened. The Message version of the Bible gives the bestexpression as to how to respond to such rejections: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

When we are out there, the Lord guarantees his constant accompaniment and that’s all the security we need!

The Lord is my security - Youtube