Gospel of February 4, 2021 with the comment of Pope Francis

Da Paolo Tessione - February 3, 2021

READING OF THE DAY
From the letter to the Jews
Heb 12,18-19.21-24

Brothers, you did not come close to anything tangible or a burning fire or darkness, darkness and storm, or the blast of trumpets and the sound of words, while those who heard it begged God not to speak to them again. The sight, in fact, was so terrifying that Moses said, "I'm afraid and I tremble."

But you have approached Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and thousands of angels, the festive gathering and the assembly of the firstborn whose names are written in the heavens, the God judge of all and the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus, mediator of the new covenant, and to the purifying blood, which is more eloquent than that of Abel.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Mark
Mc 6,7-13

At that time, Jesus called the Twelve to himself and began to send them two by two and gave them power over the unclean spirits. And he commanded them not to take anything but a stick for the journey: no bread, no sack, no money in their belt; but to wear sandals and not to wear two tunics.

And he said to them: «Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave there. If somewhere they do not welcome you and listen to you, go away and shake the dust under your feet as a testimony for them. "

And they departed and proclaimed that the people would convert, cast out many demons, anointed many sick with oil and healed them.

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
The missionary disciple first of all has his own center of reference, which is the person of Jesus. The account indicates this using a series of verbs that have Him as their subject - "he called to himself", "he began to send them", "he gave them power »,« he ordered »,« he told them »- so that the going and working of the Twelve appears as radiating from a center, the recurrence of the presence and work of Jesus in their missionary action. This shows how the Apostles have nothing of their own to announce, nor their own abilities to demonstrate, but they speak and act as "sent", as messengers of Jesus. (Angelus of 15 July 2018)