Jesus summoned the
Twelve and began to send them out two by two
For
the whole week, one important point in the Gospel readings seem to be centered
in the election and commissioning of the Apostles, along with the instructions
that the Lord Jesus gave them as they went out to spread the Good news. At
least, personally for me, this seemed to be one recurring theme that I found in
the Word, and which have guided me in my reflections all throughout this week,
which I had eventfully spent in parish work.
Being
chosen and being sent: once again these two concepts appear in the readings of
the liturgy of this Sunday in order to guide us in our reflection, and which
should orient us in our resolutions as we continue with our life. These two
concepts could never be considered each to their own; they are not separate but
are like twins. This is seen most especially in the Scriptures, for example, in
the episode that we see in the book of the prophet Amos, the first reading for
this Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). In response to the belittling
attitude of Amaziah, priest of Bethel, Amos asserts the fact that he was not
prophesying on his own power, but as someone who was called and sent by the
Lord himself to the people of Israel. He was a prophet not because of his own
liking; the fact that he knows himself well as a shepherd and a dresser of
sycamores makes it clear that he wasn’t giving any thought to prophesying until
the Lord called and sent him.
This
is the same thing that we see in the Lord Jesus concerning his disciples. In
another part of the same Gospel of Mark, we see that Jesus called those whom we
wanted (identified in the gospel by their names) so that they may be with him,
and that he might send them out to preach (cfr. Mk 3:14). He did not call them
merely that he may be able to share his life with them and that they may learn
from him; they were chosen by him so that, having lived with him and having
learned from him, they may be sent by the Lord in order to spread and preach
the Good News.
This
is something that is duplicated in our own life. The Lord has called us by name
(cfr. Is 43:1) before the foundation of the world to be holy and be without
blemish before him, as beloved children of his in Jesus Christ (cfr. Eph 1:3).
This is something that we see in the Second Reading, taken from the letter of
Paul to the Ephesians. We have been called in order to be his sons and
daughters, according to the plan that he had since the beginning of time. The fact that we are called to enjoy this
special relationship with him as his children, and that we bear his image and
likeness in us, points to the fact that we are to be holy as he is holy (cfr.
Mt. 5:48). Speaking of this, the Second Vatican Council teaches that all the
faithful of Christ, whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the
Christian life and the perfection of charity (Lumen Gentium, 40). In a few
words, we are all called to this holiness of life.
But
in the same way as the Apostles in the Gospel, we are called to spread this
Good News of salvation. The commissioning by the Lord of the Twelve in the
Gospel reminds us of the duty to do apostolate in our own life. Apostolate,
simply stated, is sharing the light of the Gospel to those nearest to us. One
does not need to be a doctor and expert in Biblical Theology to do this. One
just needs to be faithful to the grace that he or she has received in baptism. It is through the holiness of our life that
the Gospel speaks to our neighbors; it is through the fragrance of a life
pleasing to God that the Good News spreads. Nobody is exempted from this.
There
is one peculiar detail in the instructions made by our Lord to his Apostles: he instructed them to take nothing for the
journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts…this
may seem strange, because we have a good need of things in doing apostolate;
tools are helpful, and more so, important, so why the Lord’s instruction to do
away from even the basic necessities for a journey such as food and money? By these words the Lord wants us to realize
one important thing in doing apostolate: we need to rely primarily on the grace
of God, we should depend first and foremost on divine assistance. It is not the
tools nor strategies that we employ in our apostolate that make us effective:
it is first and foremost the grace and aid of the Lord who sends us on the
mission. Unless the Lord builds the
house, in vain do its builders labor (Ps 127:1), the psalm reminds us. The
grace of God is the staff upon which we should lean on in doing apostolate; the
Lord emphasizes the primacy of his grace in the labor or spreading the Gospel
to all peoples. Ultimately, we ought to realize that Christian apostolate is
not so much what we do for God; it is rather what God does in us and through us
that allows the seeds to be planted in the hearts of those nearest to us, and
it is the same God who brings into fruit that which he has planted.
To summarize
everything, like the Twelve we have been called by God, each of us; destined to
remain in his love, we have been sent by the Lord to announce the Good News of
salvation to every creature by the holiness of our lives. The medium of this
announcement is nothing else but our own life. Aided by the grace of God that
will never be lacking to us, it is part of our vocation to do apostolate. May our
Blessed Mother, through her intercession, aid us so that we may be the apostles
which our society needs in order to make it more just and more humane, a
society that bears witness to the culture of life, something pleasing to God.
AMEN.
FIRST
READING: Am 7:12-15
SECOND
READING: Eph 1:3-14
GOSPEL:
Mk 6:7-13
No comments:
Post a Comment