One aspect of our core identity as Christians is being apostolic. We are, indeed, the apostolic Church, as said in the Nicene Creed. It means, by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, receiving the Word and the Eucharist at Mass, we are sent out into the world on our respective missions, with this phrase, “Ite, missa est” (Go, as you are now dismissed (from this assembly of celebrating the Word and the Eucharist, known as Mass).
Depending on what types of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit you may be endowed with (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; cf. Romans 12:6-8; cf. Isaiah
11:2-3), our missions can have varieties in terms of styles and emphases. But,
all our missions share the same objective: making disciples in all nations, by
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching to observe everything in Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 28:19-20a). And,
carrying out our mission works, as continuation and expansion of the work of
Jesus, upon his Ascension, is a sign of our faith him (John 14:12). For this,
Jesus promised to let the Holy Spirit be sent upon us from the Father as
another Parakletos (John 14:16) so
that he can focus on his second mission for us: making our place in his
Father’s house upon his Ascension (John 14:2; 16:7).
In fact, all Synoptic Gospels conclude with
missionary narratives (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49). And
John’s Gospel concludes with the narrative of Jesus implicating Peter’s mission
(John 21:15-19) and John’s mission (John 21:20-23).
In order to savor the Gospel Reading for the 15th
Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, (Mark 6:7-13), along with the First Reading
(Amos 7:12-15) and the Second Reading (Ephesians 1:3-14), we must keep the
above in mind.
The Gospel Reading (Mark 6:7-13) per se is rather
straightforward: Jesus sending out his twelve disciples on their first mission two
by two, with authority over evil spirit and an instruction. According to Mark,
this took place after Jesus being rejected by faithless people of his home
town, Nazareth, as a prophet without honor in his hometown (Mark 6:1-6), and
this was read last Sunday (14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B).
So, how did Jesus prepared his twelve disciples to
be sent out on their mission two by two?
First, why two by two (Mark 6:7)? Why sending them
in pair?
By having a companion on mission, disciples can
support each other. Remember, this is the very first time that they were sent
out on mission. So Jesus wanted to make sure none of his twelve disciples would
get “lost” on their mission or tempted to drop out. Jesus wanted all of his twelve disciples to
complete the mission and return to him safely.
Going on mission is not meant to be alone. It is a
team work, demanding to team-coordinate constantly. Thus, being sent two by two
is rather a minimum form. Remember how Paul accomplished his three great
missionary journeys throughout the Greco-Roman world with multiple companions
to collaborate and coordinate with (Acts 13:2-21:19)?
Mark tells that Jesus first gave them authority over
evil spirits (Mark 6:7). In fact, this is the authority that Jesus has, as he
drove out evil spirit from a possessed man by commanding over it (Mark
1:23-28). And his authority over evil spirit is powerful enough to drive out
even numerous demonic spirits with one command (Mark 5:1-20). Now he shares
this powerful authority over evil spirits with the disciples before sending
them. It is because the biggest obstacle to mission work is evil spirits, as
they will do anything to obstruct Jesus’ mission. Remember, Satan tried to
thwart Jesus from launching on his mission after his baptism, trying to tempt
him (Matthew 4:1-11//Mark 1:13b//Luke 4:1-13).
Then, Jesus proceeded to given them specific
instructions:
Take nothing for the journey – except for a staff –
no food, no sack, no money (Mark 6:8).
This means, Jesus does not want the disciples to
take anything for themselves but rather go on their mission journey with the
absolutely minimum thing – a staff to support them on the way.
You may wonder how they could go on the journey if
no food allowed to take with. What do you think Jesus would say about this?
He would say, “Isn’t my grace enough for you?”(2
Corinthians 12:9). In other words, Jesus wanted them to trust God’s provision
on the way. It means that Jesus wanted them to learn from their own experience
how God will provide what is necessary along with way through people who
welcome them and appreciate their presence and mission work.
Of course, Jesus did not want his disciples to
starve and perish on mission. That is why he also instructed not to waste their
time in a place where they are not welcomed but move on (Mark 6:11).
Then, Jesus also told the disciples not have an
extra tunic but just wear sandals (Mark 6:9).
Walking miles and miles on bare foot would be too
harsh and may result in injuries. Then, it would disrupt mission. So, sandals
are necessary to assure successful completion of mission.
What about an extra tunic?
It sure would be nice to have it especially when
sleeping on a cold night. But, Jesus wanted the disciples to trust God’s
provision on the spot.
Basically, Jesus wanted his disciples to learn how
God’s providence would come to them as they go on their mission through the
hospitality of those who welcome and receive what is provided by the disciples:
teaching and healing, which includes driving out demons and anointing with oil
(Mark 6:10-12). If trusting God, then, why do they need to bring so many things
for themselves, like food and extra tunic? Why do they need a sack – if they are
going on mission not for themselves or their personal gain but simply to do
what Jesus commanded them to do?
We must understand from this Gospel Reading (Mark
6:7-13) that our core identity: being apostolic, which means “being sent out on
our mission”, seeks nothing for ourselves, as it means to live only for Christ,
who sends us with what is absolutely necessary and with God’s providence along
with way, and for his will, which is also the Father’s will. And it is to
establish the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, by making disciples
in all nations through baptizing people and teaching them to live a life
according to Christ’s teaching (Matthew 28:19), while making the greatness of
God to all the ends of the earth with a joyful new song (Psalm 98).
Satan sure will attack us while being on our mission
journey. But, remember, Jesus did not send us unprepared. He has sent us with
the powerful Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and he constantly nourishes us with the
Word and the Eucharist, which is his Body and Blood, at Mass. So, we go on
mission armored and armed fully (Ephesians 6:10-17).
Our apostolic identity is nothing new.
The First Reading (Amos 7:12-15) reminds us that
prophets back in the time of the Old Testament, like Amos, was also sent on
their mission for God, while the Second Reading (Ephesians 1:3-14) reflects the
fact that we have been chosen by the Father in heaven as Christ’s co-heirs
through him, implicating that our mission works as continuation and extension
of his work (John 14:12) is carried out as his co-heirs. This is why we have
been marked in Christ with a seal and with a promise of the Holy Spirit, a
guaranteed deposit of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Now, remember Joseph, the second youngest son of
Jacob, who was sent to Egypt and eventually saved Israel from a grave threat of
perishing in famine?
Because of his brother’s hatred, Joseph was stripped
naked and sold to Egypt as a slave. He was sent there with nothing for himself.
He was at mercy of his Egyptian master? No. He was actually at God’s mercy –
though it seemed as if he were at the mercy of his Egyptian host for a long
time in his time of suffering. But, eventually, God’s mercy proved to show that
Joseph was sent on His mission to save Israel and also to restore the unity of
Israel, which was fizzled because of his brother’s sin against him.
And this was reflected through the First Readings
from Wednesday to Saturday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle
I (odd number year) (Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24; 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5; 46:1-7,
28-30; 49:29-32;50:15-26), along with Matthew’s version of Jesus’ preparing and
sending his twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1-7, 7-15, 16-23, 24-33), to prepare
us to appreciate today’s Gospel Reading on being sent (being apostolic) on
mission (Mark 6:7-13), in conjunction with the First Reading (Amos 7:12-15) and
the Second Reading (Ephesians 1:3-14).
Though being apostolic, sent on mission, is not for
ourselves, this will entitle us to enjoy benefits of being co-heirs to Jesus
Christ, the Son. And God provides everything we need to accomplish our mission
in continuing and extending the work that Jesus had started on his earthly
mission.
Are you ready to be sent by Jesus on your mission
with another person? Is anything holding you back?
Let us be assured of God’s full support and
protection, remembering these words of Jesus, because God wants us to successfully complete our mission with abundant fruits:
It
was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may
give you (John 15:16).
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