Alberic Jacovone OSB
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YEAR B
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY - 16.7.06
Amos 7,12-15; Eph 1,3-14; Mk 6,7-13
A ‘Mission’ to all Nations: forever
Jesus’
Mission & our Mission. On Trinity Sunday this year
(11th June 06), we read how Jesus, having accomplished his saving Mission (by
his Cross, Death & resurrection), & before returning to his Father in
heaven, commissioned his apostles to take his Mission to all Nations, handing
over to them his ‘Mission Statement’. He said: “All authority has been
given to me. Go now to all Nations: make them my disciples, baptize them &
teach them to keep the commandments that I gave you... I am with you until the
end of time”. It took years for
each ‘apostle’ (a Greek word which means ‘one who is sent forth with a
mission’ or ‘one who is com-missioned’) to understand what Jesus (&
God through Him) wanted of the apostles just as it takes years for us, to
understand what God wants each of us to do in our life for God’s plan. In
today’s Gospel, Mark tells us how Jesus began with the apostles. He started by
forming their mind: then, he sent them ahead of him in pairs, to preach with
authority & to heal. He also gave them clear instructions, on how to stay
strong & committed, & on how to respond when people do not
listen, do not welcome & remain hostile. Jesus said: shake off the dust from
your feet as a sign to them & move on.
Just as Jesus is sending the disciples out on a mission, so now the same
Jesus is sending each of us out to continue his saving mission to the people of
our generation. At the end of each Mass, we are sent forth as Christ’s
ambassadors, to share our faith with others & build the kingdom of God in
our families and in our society. Each of us is asked to find ways to share our
faith & our journey with people with whom we interact, work & live with.
At times this may require courage, since we may be challenged & even
ridiculed.
Where
do I fit in ‘Church-Mission? Today, Mark tells us that we are caught in Jesus’
Mission to all Nations. This Mission commits
& involves each of us, at all levels, as we appear generation after generation. It took
years for the early Christians, to fathom the unfolding of God’s plan: as it had been
foretold by the prophets (& indeed all prophecies of Old Testament had mapped out
Jesus’ life, death & resurrection). Jesus had to ( & did indeed) fulfil the
Scriptures, in all details where the Messiah (Jesus) would be rejected, suffer
death on the cross - be buried & rise to New life. All this was God’s plan, we could become God’s people
& have a place in God’s Kingdom. Now
our Christian conviction tells us that Jesus sent
his apostles to bring the Good News of God’s love to everyone, Then, other people came to
believe, who in turn handed over the ‘Good News’ from one generation to another. Now it
is our turn to own this message & hand it over to others. Today’s Gospel puts this
challenge to us: look into your life & thank those people who worked hard so you could get it
right in terms of your Christian life. If so, what are you doing to ensure that the next
generation in your family, children & grand-children also gets it right?...
The warnings that Jesus gave the apostles apply also to us today. As we now continue the missionary
activity of the Church, we too risk to be rejected, just as Jesus was in his hometown of
Nazareth (last week’s Gospel). We too need directions: must preach by example &
be detached from greed, worries & worldly concerns... For us the Mission of the Church
is lived in the context of Mass: in it we nourish our conviction, take an active part in
God’s word - offering gifts & even our life - share in sacrifice, in prayers & welcome
the Lord in the Eucharist. After Mass, we are sent forth to be messengers of God’s love to
all. How does this ‘Mission’ resonate in me?
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