Gospel (Mk 6,7-13) - At that time, Jesus called the Twelve to him and began sending them out two by two and gave them power over impure spirits. And he ordered them to take nothing for the journey except a staff: neither bread, nor bag, nor 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 in any place they do not welcome you and do not listen to you, go away and shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony to them." And they, having left, proclaimed that the people would convert, they would banish many demons, they would anoint many sick people with oil and heal them.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Gospel describes the first mission of the Twelve. Jesus calls them and sends them, two by two, to the nearby villages. And he exhorts them not to live for themselves and not to limit themselves to their own small horizons, but to go out to meet men, wherever they are, to announce the Gospel to them and to heal their infirmities. It is a mission that has no borders and that asks disciples to always go further until they reach the boundaries of hearts and the most distant frontiers. It is significant that the evangelist Mark, and with him Matthew and Luke, places the sending on mission as one of the first steps in the public life of Jesus. It is often thought that before speaking to others about Jesus, before going to communicate the joy of the Christian life, we must grow, understand everything, be ready. Christian life is always a mission. Every Christian community and every disciple must feel the urgency of the mission. The strength of Jesus' disciples, the only baggage they have to carry with them is the Gospel, the only tunic they have to wear is mercy, the only stick they have to lean on is charity. And then Jesus never sends us alone. Saint Gregory the Great notes that Jesus sent them two by two precisely so that mutual love would be the first preaching. Jesus urges his followers to stay with those who welcome them to help them grow in knowledge of the Gospel. Of course, the outcome is not always guaranteed and Jesus tells them that the responsibility of those who reject the love of the Lord will be serious. But the disciples must not desist from communicating it and helping everyone to welcome it into their hearts.