St Benedict was born at Norcia in Umbria about the year 480. After studying at Rome, and leading a life of solitude in Subiaco, he gathered disciples around him, and went to Monte Cassino. Here he founded a well-known monastery and wrote his Rule, as a result he has been called the father of monasticism in the West.

 

 

First Reading: (Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12)

 

Thus says the Lord: Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars, and destroy their pillars. For now they will say: “We have no king, for we fear not the Lord, and a king, what could he do for us?” Samaria’s king shall perish, like a chip on the face of the waters. The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall upon us. Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

 

Ps 104:2-7

R./ Constantly seek the face of the Lord.

 

Gospel: (Mt 10:1-7) Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James  the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samar­itans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

 

 

Reflection:

The twelve apostles whom Jesus had chosen were very ordinary people. Jesus did not choose the learned, the influential people in the society to continue his mission of preaching the kingdom of God. Jesus gave them authority over the unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disesase and infirmity. It is to continue Jesus’ own mission. There is an aspect of God’s choice and human response in every vocation. What is most striking is the ordinariness of these disciples. Whether we are people who are engaged in a full time mission of the Lord or not, we are called from our own little situations. We are called upon to be ambassadors of Christ, to carry forward the mission of Jesus primarily by our way of life. God has not called the perfect people to be his followers but he calls those whom he has chosen to a life of perfection.