Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

July 8, 2026

Today’s readings depict the stiff-necked resistance to God found in Jewish Scripture, when people chose to go their own way. The prophet Hosea declares that the Israelites must “sow for themselves justice, reap the fruit of piety… for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain down justice upon you.” (Hosea 10:7-8, 12)

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 105) speaks of “hearts that seek the Lord… seek to serve him constantly. Seek always the face of the Lord.”

Today’s Gospel focuses on Jesus’ instructions to the Twelve to proclaim the Kingdom. Jesus’ own ministry is a model for the Twelve. Having watched Jesus in action, they must now act in the same way.

The first question asked of parents at Baptism is: What name do you give your child? Baptism provides us with the one possession we can take with us into eternity, our name — everything else stays behind. Our names are linked to our Baptism and, therefore, to our Christian service for our entire lives. Some of us take a second name for Confirmation, symbolizing, with the new name, our acceptance, on our own behalf, of the promises our parents made for us in Baptism. Jewish scripture tells us that the Lord calls his own by name. So, in today’s Gospel, we hear the names of the Twelve.

Jesus’ command is really meant for all baptized into his name, all who are his brothers and sisters in the Lord. When we listen to a neighbor’s troubles, when we visit the hospital, when we try to right a wrong, when we encourage belief in the Lord Jesus, we are acting as the Twelve in the beginning.

We might spend time today reflecting on our names and our call to serve his people. There are so many ways to do so. Which ones do we choose?

Prayer:

Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with saving justice. (Entrance Antiphon for the Fourteenth Week In Ordinary Time).