First Reading

Reading from the prophecy of Hosea

Hosea 10, 1-3. 7-8. 12

Israel was a luxuriant vine
that yielded abundant fruit.
But the more its fruit increased,
the more its pagan altars multiplied;
the richer the country became,
the richer its monuments to idols grew.

Their heart is divided
and they will pay for their guilt.
The Lord will tear down their altars
and demolish their monuments.
But they say: «We have no king.»
But if they do not fear the Lord,
what can the king do for them?

Samaria and its calf will disappear
like foam upon the water.
All the sanctuaries of the idols will be destroyed
and thorns and thistles will grow upon their altars,
because idolatry has been the sin of Israel.
Then they will cry out to the mountains: «Cover us!»,
and to the hills: «Bury us!»

Sow justice and reap mercy;
prepare your lands for sowing,
for it is time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 10, 1-7

At that time, Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them power to drive out impure spirits and to cure every kind of disease and illness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first of all, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, sons of Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus sent these twelve with these instructions: «Do not go to pagan territory, nor enter Samaritan towns. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Go and proclaim along the way that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.»