First Reading (Amos 7:12-15). The prophet Amos is faithful to the task God gave him, even though he is rejected by those to whom he is sent.
Second Reading (Eph 1:3-14). This is a hymn of thanksgiving to God for the great spiritual gifts he had given us in Christ.
Gospel (Mk 6:7-13). Jesus sends out the twelve apostles in twos as his representatives.
Amos is sent to prophesy to the people of Israel (First Reading). In the Gospel we have the sending out of the Twelve.
Amos was a prophet by divine call. In his case the call had come to a poor, unsophisticated shepherd and ‘dresser of sycamore trees’, a total outsider to the ranks of professional prophets. Much the same could be said about the men Jesus chose ‘to be with him’. Jesus having instructed them, the time had come for them to take an active part in his ministry. Their mission was an extension of his own mission, and he gave them the power to accomplish this.
In understanding his instructions as to what they were to take with them, we must remember that this was only a temporary mission, of short duration and limited to the surrounding Jewish towns and villages. The final commissioning, in which they were sent to the whole world, was still in the future.