The Twelve Apostles
(Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16)

1And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity.

2Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these: the First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, 3James of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

The Ministry of the Twelve
(Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6)

5Jesus sent these twelve, instructing them, saying: “Do not travel by the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans, 6but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel. 7And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’ 8Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely. 9Do not choose to possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts, 10nor provisions for the journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor a staff. For the laborer deserves his portion. 11Now, into whatever city or town you will enter, inquire as to who is worthy within it. And stay there until you depart. 12Then, when you enter into the house, greet it, saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ 13And if, indeed, that house is worthy, your peace will rest upon it. But if it is not worthy, your peace will return to you. 14And whoever has neither received you, nor listened to your words, departing from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15Amen I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Sheep among Wolves
(2 Timothy 1:3–12)

16Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be as prudent as serpents and as simple as doves. 17But beware of men. For they will hand you over to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. 18And you shall be led before both rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not choose to think about how or what to speak. For what to speak shall be given to you in that hour. 20For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, who will speak in you.

21And brother will hand over brother to death, and father will hand over son. And children will rise up against parents and bring about their deaths. 22And you will be hated by all for the sake of my name. But whoever will have persevered, even to the end, the same shall be saved.

23Now when they persecute you in one city, flee into another. Amen I say to you, you will not have exhausted all the cities of Israel, before the Son of man returns.

24The disciple is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above his master. 25It is sufficient for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant, like his master. If they have called the Father of the family, ‘Beelzebub,’ how much more those of his household?

Fear God Alone
(Luke 12:4–7)

26Therefore, do not fear them. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known. 27What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear whispered in the ear, preach above the rooftops. 28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But instead fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for one small coin? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father. 30For even the hairs of your head have all been numbered. 31Therefore, do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ
(Luke 12:8–12)

32Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father, who is in heaven. 33But whoever will have denied me before men, I also will deny before my Father, who is in heaven.

Not Peace but a Sword
(Micah 7:1–6; Luke 12:49–53)

34Do not think that I came to send peace upon the earth. I came, not to send peace, but the sword. 35For I came to divide a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And the enemies of a man will be those of his own household.

37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take up his cross, and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life, will lose it. And whoever will have lost his life because of me, shall find it.

The Reward of Service
(2 Kings 4:8–17)

40Whoever receives you, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me. 41Whoever receives a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet. And whoever receives the just in the name of the just shall receive the reward of the just. 42And whoever shall give, even to one of the least of these, a cup of cold water to drink, solely in the name of a disciple: Amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”