Reading 1, Hos 11:1-4, 8c-9

¹ When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

² But the more I called, the further they went away from me; they offered sacrifice to Baal and burnt incense to idols.

³ I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them,

⁴ that I was leading them with human ties, with leading-strings of love, that, with them, I was like someone lifting an infant to his cheek, and that I bent down to feed him.

⁸ Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim? My heart within me is overwhelmed, fever grips my inmost being.

⁹ I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger.

Gospel, Mt 10:7-15

⁷ And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.

⁸ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin-diseases, drive out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.

⁹ Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with coppers for your purses,

¹⁰ with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the labourer deserves his keep.

¹¹ 'Whatever town or village you go into, seek out someone worthy and stay with him until you leave.

¹² As you enter his house, salute it,

¹³ and if the house deserves it, may your peace come upon it; if it does not, may your peace come back to you.

¹⁴ And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet.

¹⁵ In truth I tell you, on the Day of Judgement it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

September 2010

October 2010