Wednesday 06 th July 2022
- Maria Goretti
(1890 – 1902)
She was an 11years old girl from a poor peasant family in Italy. She was naturally pious, kind, helpful and beautiful. In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, tried to rape her. When Maria resisted, Alexander stabbed her 14 times. She forgave her murderer on her dead bed and died in the afternoon of 6th July, 1902.
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Ps 47: 10-11
Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with saving justice.
Collect
O God, who in the abasement of your Son, have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin, you bestow eternal gladness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12
Israel was a luxuriant vine yielding plenty of fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; the richer his land became, the richer he made the sacred stones. Their heart is a divided heart; very well, they must pay for it: the Lord is going to break their altars down and destroy their sacred stones. Then they will say, ‘We have no king because we have not feared the Lord.’ But what can a king do for us? Samaria has had her day. Her king is like a straw drifting on the water. The idolatrous high places shall be destroyed – that sin of Israel; thorn and thistle will grow on their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’ Sow integrity for yourselves, reap a harvest of kindness, break up your fallow ground: it is time to go seeking the Lord until he comes to rain salvation on you.
Psalm 104:2-7
R/ Constantly seek the face of the Lord.
- O sing to the Lord, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works! Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
- Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgements he spoke.
- O children of Abraham, his servant, O sons of the Jacob he chose. He, the Lord, is our God: his judgements prevail in all the earth.
Gospel Acclamation : James1:18
Alleluia, alleluia! By his own choice the Father made us his children by the message of the truth, so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he created. Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; 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; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May this oblation dedicated to your name purify us, O Lord, and day by day bring our conduct closer to the life of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 33: 9
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.
Prayer after Communion
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, having been replenished by such great gifts, we may gain the prize of salvation and never cease to praise you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
As Jesus’ words and deeds spread, He forms the group of twelve to collaborate in spreading of the Good News. This is the same group (Apostles) that Jesus will hand over His body, the Church. They are the new witnesses of Jesus among the people. He called and sent them to the Jewish nation. He called the twelve so that the Jewish nation should be integrated into twelve tribes. They were to be the foundation of the new people God will form. The Apostles are the Church’s foundation stones. Today, as we celebrate the call of the Apostles, let us remember to pray for all the Bishops who are the Apostles’ successors. We all have apostolates in the Church, but no one makes himself an apostles. This is why we need to pray for those the Church has made apostles.