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reading of the letter to the Hebrews
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Brethren you have not come closer to a
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tangible reality burning fire and
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darkness Gloom and storm sound of the
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trumpet and mighty voice which the
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listeners begged not to continue they
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were so astonished at this spectacle
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that Moses said I am terrified and
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afraid but you have come to Mount Zion
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and to the city of the Living God God
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the heavenly Jerusalem of the festive
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Gathering of millions of angels of the
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Assembly of the firstborn whose names
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are written in heaven of God the judge
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of all of the spirits of the righteous
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who have reached Perfection of Jesus
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mediator of the New Covenant and of the
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sprinkling of blood more eloquent than
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that of Abel word of the Lord thank God
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proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
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Christ according to Mark Glory To You
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Lord at that time Jesus called the 12
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and began to send them two by two giving
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them power over unclean spirits he
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recommended that they take nothing for
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the journey except a staff no bread no
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bag no money on his waist he ordered
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them to wear sandals and not to wear two
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tunics and Jesus further said when you
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enter a house stay there until you leave
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if somewhere they do not welcome you nor
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want to listen to you when you leave
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shake off the dust from your feet as a
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testimony against them then the twel
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left and preached that everyone should
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convert they cast out many demons and
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healed many sick people by anointing
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them with oil word of Salvation Glory To
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dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
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imagine yourself in front of a mountain
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engulfed in fire covered by dark clouds
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with trumpet sounds and terrifying
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voices this is the scenario that the
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letter to the Hebrews presents to us
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today describing Mount Si where the
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people of Israel encountered God for the
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first time on their journey of
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Liberation an encounter so overwhelming
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that even Moses said I am terrified and
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trembling but the author of Hebrews
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quickly takes us to a startling contrast
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but you have come to Mount Zion to the
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city of the Living God to the Heavenly
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Jerusalem what an extraordinary change
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from the terror of sin to the joy of
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Zion from Fear to Celebration from
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distance to intimacy this transformation
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in the way we approach God finds a
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powerful echo in today's Gospel where we
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see Jesus sending his disciples on a
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mission he sends them two by two giving
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them authority over over unclean spirits
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and specific guidelines for the journey
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take no bread no bag no money just a
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staff and sandals the Simplicity of
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these instructions is impressive
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disciples must trust completely in
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Divine Providence stripped of everything
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except the essentials this is a powerful
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picture of the New Covenant that Hebrews
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describes no longer based on terror and
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distance but on trust and intimacy
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reflect for a moment on this progression
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at siai the people could not even touch
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the mountain under penalty of death in
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Zion we are invited to draw near to the
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sprinkled blood that speaks more
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eloquently than Ables at Sinai there was
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darkness and storm in Zion there are
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myriads of angels rejoicing this
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contrast does not diminish the Holiness
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of God on the contrary it reveals how
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through Christ our relationship with the
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Divine has been fundamentally
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transformed we no longer need to tremble
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in fear before God we can approach with
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confidence yet always with reverence the
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disciples sent by Jesus embody this new
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reality they leave not with fear but
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with authority not Laden with Provisions
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but light and confident their mission is
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not to impose Terror but to bring
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healing and Liberation they cast out
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many demons and healed many sick people
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anointing them with oil this leads us to
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to a deep reflection on our own Journey
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of Faith many of us still carry an image
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of God based on sin a distant terrifying
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God ready to punish us but today's
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invitation is to get closer to Mount
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Zion to experience the intimacy with God
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that Jesus made possible like the
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disciples we are called to a mission but
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this mission is not based on fear or
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intimidation it is a mission of Love of
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healing of Liberation and like the
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disciples we are called to trust to
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depend not on our own Provisions or
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assurances but on Divine Providence what
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unnecessary baggage do we carry on our
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spiritual journey what fears still
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prevent us from approaching god with
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confidence what extra Provisions do we
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insist on carrying when Jesus calls us
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to the Simplicity of Faith the letter to
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the Hebrews reminds us that we also draw
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near to Jesus mediator of the New
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Covenant it is through him that our
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relationship with God is transformed it
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is he who invites us to leave the terror
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of Sinai and enter the joy of Zion and
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just as the disciples were sent two by
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two we are not alone on this journey we
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are part of a Community of Faith the
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Assembly of the firstborn whose names
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are written in heaven together we can
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encourage each other to trust more to
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fear less to live the New Covenant in
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Christ more fully may we today accept
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the invitation to approach god with
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renewed confidence may we like the
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disciples embark on our mission with
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Simplicity and faith and may the god of
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love not Terror be our strength and our
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joy on this journey May the grace of our
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Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the
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father and the communion of the Holy
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Spirit be with you all
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amen St Michael the Archangel defend Us
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in battle be our protection against the
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wickedness and snares of the devil may
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God rebuke him we humbly pray and do
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thou o Prince of the Heavenly Host by
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the power of God cast into hell Satan
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and all the evil spirits who prowl
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throughout the world seeking the ruin of
