Fifteenth week in Ordinary Time
Amos 7: 12-15; Ephesians 1: 3-14; Mark 6: 7-13
The first reading from the book of Amos narrates to us
the trials of Amos; how he was rejected and sent away from Bethel by a priest
called Amaziah. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that we are the adopted
children of God. The gospel recounts the instructions given by Jesus to who
have been called and sent. Jesus schools his twelve chosen men prior to sending
them on a mission. We could infer the following lessons from Jesus’ school
of discipleship.
Jesus sends the disciples in pairs:
Jesus having identified his twelve disciples, pairs them up. Like students on a school trip, ‘hold hands together, stick together.’
Jesus is teaching something similar, ‘stick together.’ Do not be a Christian alone.
Jesus makes the disciples part of a community. The disciples are not to be
alone on the mission. He calls them into a community. Community is a blessing
and a gift. We need each other. We are better, when we are together. Christian life is not an individual enterprise but a
collective endeavour and a mutual responsibility. As Christians, we belong to one another. Every Christian is called to be part of a community, and every catholic priest is called into a community. All the sacramental and liturgical celebrations are
community celebrations. We impress, inspire and influence each other. When
parents read the bible daily, say the family prayers daily and go to church, the
entire family does the same. Parents are the key to the spiritual health of the
family. When parents read the bible, recite family prayers and, go to church, discipline their children, society flourishes. If not, society suffers. Every Christian family is a missionary. There is no
such thing as a lone-ranger Christian. Being a follower
of Jesus means to do it together.
Jesus is the Boss: Our second lesson is that Jesus is the Boss. Jesus chooses the disciples; he gives them
authority over unclean spirits and sends on a mission. So, Jesus is the Boss.
He is the boss, he puts all of us in-charge. There was a little boy about
four years old. The little boy saw a man selling balloons, and he came to the ballon seller and asked him, Uncle, will this red ballon go up in the air? The balloon seller said, of course, it will. Then a blue one, sure it will. The pink one, definitely will fly in the air. The exasperated balloon seller said,
look, my boy, balloons do not go up in the air based on their colours. The balloons
go up in the air not because of their colour but because of what is inside of
them, the gas, the air. Jesus is our gas, our fuel, we fly high as long as we are
filled with Him. He is our priority. Our aim is not to replace him but to manifest
him in our words and deeds.
Adopt minimalist living:
Jesus admonishes his disciples to travel light. As Christians, we are invited to
travel light. Because travelling light means we trust in Jesus and not in material things. Limited garments, no packed food, and one pair of sandals all mean that the disciple is invited to identify himself/herself with the poor
and the people who have the minimum. It is an invitation to understand that the
haves and the have-nots are equal in the eyes of God. Everyone needs to be
affirmed and accepted. Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, once took two candidates for dinner; they both were graduates of the same university, they had the same A grade, and they were both geniuses. They finished their dinner
and they walked out of the restaurant. As soon as they walked out, Ford said to one, you are hired, and to another, we won’t be proceeding together; thank you very much for the lovely dinner. And
the young guy summoned the courage and said Mr. Ford, can I ask you something
sir? We never spoke about engineering, we did not speak about cars, and we only
spoke about general things. Why are you hiring my friend and not me? Mr.
Ford said, for one most important reason, your friend was polite and respectful
with all the waiters and servants, saying thank you and please but they were
invisible for you. You only were polite while addressing me. A great leader
should not see the hierarchy. He has to see human beings. Jesus wants us Christians
to see human beings, particularly in the less privileged ones. Let me put it this way, richness in life is not how much money we make; it is how little money we need. The little I need, the richer I am. The little I have, the happier I am.
Do not get discouraged when you fail:
We are sent on a mission. Jesus rightly cautions us; not everyone will accept
us. Some will receive us, and some will reject us. We will be looked down
upon by our people. The simple lesson here is ‘don’t get discouraged when you
fail.’ Jesus met with rejection, Thomas failed, Peter failed, Paul failed, and many
saints have failed. Failure in the eyes of the world is an overwhelming success
in the eyes of God. Don’t get discouraged; keep moving ahead. A Christian is not
the one who never fails but who raises each time he/she fails.
Our Takeaway
1. Every Christian family is a missionary. Being a
follower of Jesus means to do it together. Christian life is not an individual enterprise
but a collective endeavour and a mutual responsibility.
2. Jesus is our boss. He calls and sends us. He is our
priority. Our aim is not to replace him but to manifest him in our words and deeds.
3. The richness in life is not how much money we make; it is how little money we need. The little we need, the richer we are. The little we have, the happier we are.
4. A Christian is not the one who never fails but who
raises each time he/she fails.
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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