“He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick — no food, no sack, no money in their belts.” (Mark 6:8.)
Prudentius (formally known as Aurelius Clemens Prudentius) poetically comments on this verse from the Gospel proclaimed during today’s Mass:
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“To wish for nothing more than need demands
Is rest supreme, with simple food and dress
To feed and clothe our bodies and to seek
No more than is prescribed by nature’s wants.
When going on a journey, take no purse,
Nor of a second tunic think, and be
Not anxious for the morrow, lest for food
The belly lack.
Our daily bread returns
With every sun.
Does any bird take thought
Of tomorrow, certain to be fed by God?” (The Spiritual Combat)
Is rest supreme, with simple food and dress
To feed and clothe our bodies and to seek
No more than is prescribed by nature’s wants.
When going on a journey, take no purse,
Nor of a second tunic think, and be
Not anxious for the morrow, lest for food
The belly lack.
Our daily bread returns
With every sun.
Does any bird take thought
Of tomorrow, certain to be fed by God?” (The Spiritual Combat)
Reflection on Jesus’ summoning the Twelve and giving them His authority.
Collect
O God,
Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever
is contrary to the name of Christ
and to strive after all that does it honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever
is contrary to the name of Christ
and to strive after all that does it honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
