.jpg)
"The kingdom of God is at hand for you"
Luke 10: 1-9
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070322.cfm
When we travel, especially if it is by plane these days, we want to travel as smoothly and safely as possible. Very unfortunately for what seems to be chronic reasons air travel these days has become anything but enjoyable. With delays and surprise cancellations many are understandably miffed. Not to mention the price of gas which seems to have no near end in sight. Maybe the best solution is either to stay close to home, buy a horse or get some comfortable walking shoes! There is something to say about simplicity – not that I’m about to saddle up.
Still, I recall on a pilgrimage to France about ten years
ago, one of our pilgrims was a dear religious sister. She had always dreamed of traveling to France
and Lourdes and now her dream had finally come true.
When we met, we met at the airport, we all took a double
take. She was hauling two large
suitcases along with a carry on and we all wondered, what does she have in
there? She was the type who would wear
her habit pretty much all the time and indeed she did. In fact, she was never NOT in her religious
habit no matter where we went including on the plane of course. So, what was in those bags?
She stated a second habit and warm coats not knowing what
the weather would be like – it was mid-April – and personal items. Well, poor Sister, with some assistance from
the men, she trekked with the group through thick and thin, on and off planes,
busses and trains and through security.
Maybe some helpful advice about traveling light would have been
important for her. So too, our Gospel this Sunday continues even more specific
advice about our “travel plans” as we walk the road of discipleship with less
rather than more. In fact Jesus requires those he sends out to basically travel
with the bare necessities, to rely entirely on the hospitality of strangers, and to trust fully in the providence of God.
Last Sunday we heard Jesus' urgency of the mission that when he calls in the many ways we hear God's
invitation (Lk 9: 51-62) and this weekend about the immediacy to move out and
make the good news of Jesus known (Lk 10: 1-9). But, in order to follow him, we
must be single focused and in the case of those sent out by the Lord, travel
lightly, no extra baggage to weigh you down. Still, rather than Jesus
advising a kind of Christian travel tips, isn’t this about something more than
just a suitcase?
The image of a harvest is mentioned by Jesus in the
Gospel; an “abundant” harvest in search of more laborers to gather in the
result of good growth. In other words,
this is God’s harvest we are reaping; it is his work, not ours, that we gather and
we are called to be those who labor for his cause in the fields. It is quite
daunting on the level of personal conversion.
I cannot help but remember Pope Francis’ description of the Church as a
field hospital.
What Jesus asks of us are great challenges in a world
that often speaks so persuasively against sacrifice, simplicity of life,
forgiveness, peace, reconciliation, and facing challenges even at the price of
personal danger and threats. Considering the division in our culture today
between ideologies, politics, religion, deep mistrust of government, the rise
in violence the call of Jesus to go to “every town and place” frankly becomes
less attractive. One would rather hide in the safety of our personal worlds.
So, Jesus' requirements in the Gospel this Sunday are far
more about the message and mission we carry everywhere we go. It is about whose
name we bear: Christian. The mission is about who we proclaim to follow – Jesus
Christ and his Church. Let nothing hold
you back; travel light. Shuck off whatever is causing you to resist sharing the
good news of the Gospel: the endless pursuit of wealth and material things,
human attachments, lack of a spiritual life, a lazy practice of the faith,
personal sin, an unforgiving attitude, prejudice, our own fear and doubt, or
whatever may weigh us down and prevents the journey we all walk as followers of
Christ. The ultimate mission hasn’t changed for us despite what is happening in
the world of this time. It’s not all
darkness and fear.
If life seems heavy and complicated it may often be of our
own making. How will the world be changed if Catholic/Christians are no
different than others around them? Why
should it change if we become invisible and compromised?
In the case of our discipleship on mission, the 72 which
Jesus sent out are challenged to rely totally on God's providence: How reliant am I on God for all that I
need? We believe that all we have is
gift, so am I thankful for that gift? Do I trust him as I walk in his ways?
Sure, we take responsibility for our lives but in the larger picture, it all
depends on him. Am I so filled with fear, anxious, because I do not really
trust what God promises?
Yet, there is urgency about sharing the good news. We do
so through the right balance of things in our life: faith and God first, all
else is second to that regardless of an alternative message that preaches
contrary values. This seems to be the gist of Jesus' travel advice.
On this Independence Day weekend, we are rightly
concerned about our safety. Attacks seem to come from all parts of the world
that threaten our desire to live as a free and safe people. The right to live in peace, to freely express
our thoughts, hopes and dreams, to freely worship God according to our faith
and to be productive citizens of this country is very much on our mind as we
celebrate our Independence as a Nation.
Maybe Isaiah’s reassurance of God’s providence in our
first reading and Jesus’ call to trust on this Sunday and in this time can
reinforce our faith, rather than threaten it.
We need to do our part absolutely but likewise turn to God for
discernment in prayer. It is not our
personal call to reform the Church in our image but to enhance the great
commission of Christ to bring the good news by the integrity of our lives in
this place and time. The journey we walk today may seem to be more precarious,
yet the good news of God’s love and mercy is our message. On that we can rely for all things. Peace be with you and a happy 4th
of July!
Open our eyes
to the needs of our brothers and sisters;
inspire in us words and actions
to comfort those who labor and are burdened
Make us serve them truly;
after the example of Christ. . .
And may your Church stand as a living witness
to truth and freedom,
to peace and justice . . .
(From Eucharistic Prayer IV
Prayer for Masses for various needs)
No comments:
Post a Comment