SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT - Gospel (Mt 9:35–10:1.5a.6-8) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.” (Mt 10:8)

FIRST READING - Is 30:19-21, 23-26

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

Thus says the Lord GOD,

the Holy One of Israel:

O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,

no more will you weep;

He will be gracious to you when you cry out,

as soon as he hears he will answer you.

The Lord will give you the bread you need

and the water for which you thirst.

No longer will your Teacher hide himself,

but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,

While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:

"This is the way; walk in it,"

when you would turn to the right or to the left.

He will give rain for the seed

that you sow in the ground,

And the wheat that the soil produces

will be rich and abundant.

On that day your flock will be given pasture

and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows;

The oxen and the asses that till the ground

will eat silage tossed to them

with shovel and pitchfork.

Upon every high mountain and lofty hill

there will be streams of running water.

On the day of the great slaughter,

when the towers fall,

The light of the moon will be like that of the sun

and the light of the sun will be seven times greater

like the light of seven days.

On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,

he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,

and curing every disease and illness.

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them

because they were troubled and abandoned,

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest."

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples

and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out

and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,

"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Cure the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT - Gospel (Mt 9:35–10:1.5a.6-8)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, God the Father says to all humanity: Follow the example of Jesus Christ, listen to His Word. Because Jesus Christ is the only Son of God the Father. He is the most perfect example on this earth, the example of love.

God's love covers all things. The Kingdom of Heaven will also be for all those who always know how to live in love and have mercy like God the Father. God the Father invites all of His children to put love above all things. Because only love can bring happiness and peace to people. God the Father also invites all His children to go out to their brothers and sisters following the example of Jesus Christ, bringing the love and mercy of God the Father to all humanity, so that this world will be filled with the love and light of God the Father's grace. God the Father lets people know that this world is only a temporary place, not a place that brings eternal life to the human soul. Therefore, God the Father wants all people to be awake and to always live according to the invitation that He has given, to practice living a holy life so that God can let them taste the life of the Kingdom of Heaven right here on earth. That is to live in love, as God the Father's Word has taught people: put love above all laws. Like Jesus Christ, He put love above all things. Because of love, He obeyed God the Father and came to this world, sacrificing Himself to die to redeem the sins of mankind, so that mankind could enjoy the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven with Him.

God the Father teaches His children that when they follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, they must also give up all things that are worldly, all things that belong to this world, to receive the graces that He will bestow, and from there, the children of light must go everywhere to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, heal the sick and the disabled, and exorcise demons. All those who have a desire and are faithful to God the Father, He will grant grace and always be there to accompany them. And those people will become the instruments that God the Father uses to bestow His grace of love and mercy on all souls who are humble, self-effacing, loving and forgiving, who know how to accept God the Father's words and put them into practice. This is the way God the Father teaches His children. In addition, He teaches all those who have the courage to commit themselves to the vocation He has chosen, the mission He has given.

Thanks be to God. Amen.