“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” (MK 6: 7)
Our Lord knew perfectly how difficult the mission could be for His beloved Apostles, “the Twelve,” so He “sent them out two by two” to work together, to be united in the mission and to grow as a community because being an apostle means first of all to live in community with Jesus and the others.
“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I am in very serious difficulty. Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; but let me not fall by the hand of man.”
Unfortunately, David’s opinion about human nature is universal. We humans are not famous for mercy but well-known for the opposite. “Let us fall by the hand of God, for He is most merciful” is also universal, especially during this year of mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God.” (LK 2: 27-28)
The Holy Spirit is always busy. He takes care of so many of us. Protecting, leading, revealing and explaining are some of His activities. When we follow His leadership, many miracles happen.
“A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, ‘Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.’”
To be an apostle of Our Lord requires a special call from Jesus, but to announce the Good News to all is God’s will. Home and family will always be our first place of our apostolate. Even “the man who had been possessed” had something to “announce to all that the Lord in his pity has done for him.”
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (JER 1: 4-5)
In just a few words, we have fully expressed life’s mission. “I knew you”: I loved you and chose you; “I dedicated you”: I set you apart to be a prophet; “I appointed you”: take care of my words, be my ambassador. What a dignity we have, how amazingly we are loved. Formed by God’s love, dedicated and appointed by Him, we “cannot fully find ourselves except through a sincere gift of ourselves” (GS, 24)
“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“They woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm.” (MK 4: 38-39)
How often we need this kind of intervention from Our Lord—“the wind ceased and there was great calm”–all kinds of hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes when our family members’ lives are in danger because, extremely overwhelmed, “we are perishing.” Our Lord always responds when we ask.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.” (MK 4: 26-27)
“The Kingdom of God” grows “night and day” when we “sleep and rise.” We do not know how it works. The same is with God’s word in us. We will see, at some time in the future, the beauty of Our Lord’s work. “The seed will sprout and grow,” quietly yet powerfully, without our intervention, but with our loving cooperation, being gentle, respectful and givers of selves.
“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (MK 4: 24-25)
There are two persons responsible for “what we hear”: the speaker and the listener. God’s word reminds us today of our responsibility: “take care what YOU hear.” In words of anger and rage, we can hear our child’s cry for love and a hug; in words with a lack of respect, we can hear our spouse’s cry for attention, love and help. Of course we can hear only the first part, but for full communication, when we responsibly give the gift of self, we add our generous part and receive the benefits: “the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” His Word is “a lamp to my feet, a light to my path.”
“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (MK 4: 20)
Just like where there is A and B we can expect to find C, the same is true with us: when we “hear the word and accept it,” we can also expect fruit. The more we carefully listen and the more our hearts are open, the more fruit we can expect.
“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (MK 3: 34-35)
Our Lord came to us to tell us about “the will of God.” Probably we can describe how much we do to recognize (our vocation, studies, job, number of children, and so many others) and to accept “the will of God,” and how much we do to practice it in our everyday lives. Sometimes we forget that God’s will, besides this, is quite simple—to love each other. Period. No more, no less.
“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)
