 |
| “The Seventy Disciples are Sent out Two by Two” by James Tissot, 1886-96 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24
Commentary on Heb 12:18-19, 21-24
The author, speaking to the Hebrews, launches a final appeal to compare the Covenant of Moses with the New Covenant in Christ. The Mosaic Covenant, argues the author, is based in fear of God while the New Covenant grants direct access to God the heavenly Father. The author points at Moses saying even he was afraid ("Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, 'I am terrified and trembling.'")
In the second section, a comparison is drawn between the Jews waiting at Mount Sinai for Moses and the faithful Christians at the end times gathering at the heavenly throne, the new Jerusalem, with all the angels and saints.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11
R. (see 10) O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Commentary on Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11
Psalm 48 is a song of praise to God, exhorting the community to praise the Lord for his gift of salvation. The psalm sings of the glory of the Heavenly Kingdom, the new Jerusalem, and the Lord’s mercy and justice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
Commentary on Mk 6:7-13
In this account, the twelve disciples are sent two by two to begin the ministry for which Christ has been preparing them. They have been with him since they were called. Now he sends them into the world to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God as Jesus had done. We note a few differences from the same account in Matthew 10:5ff and Luke 10:1ff. First, in St. Mark’s account they are allowed to take a staff and sandals (prohibited in the other Gospels). Second, St. Mark does not mention a prohibition against entering “pagan territory,” a reflection of conditions in the region at the time of Mark’s authorship.
The disciples are encouraged to stay in one house as opposed to moving from one place to another (presumably to find greater comfort), so as to avoid giving insult to their host or appearing ungrateful. The instruction to “shake the dust off your feet” to those who were unwelcoming was seen as a testimony against those who rejected repentance.
CCC: Mk 6:7 765, 1673; Mk 6:12-13 1506; Mk 6:13 1511, 1673
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
In Jesus' mind, the disciples understand the basics. He calls them together and sends them out on their mission to do as he has done, proclaim the good news and cast out unclean spirits. It must be for Jesus like giving the keys of the car to a teenager for the first time. They have been with him for a while and have seen what he has done in God’s name; now Jesus gives them the same authority and sends them out.
Of course, the analogy is flawed. Unlike a parent trusting (and praying) that the training and practice of a new driver is sufficient to keep their child out of serious trouble, Jesus sees into the hearts of the disciples and knows they have the faith and courage necessary to do what he asks of them. He must send them because he knows that, like the seed analogy he has used so often, the gift of salvation must be allowed to spread out from himself who is the source of that life.
This tableau set before us is the heart of the great paradox we, as Christians, must face daily. While the Lord commands us to be a people set apart from the world, set apart because we belong to him and not to the secular world, we too are sent into the world to be the new disciples, proclaiming the Good News through our words and actions.
It is the power of the New Covenant that makes this possible. While we may worry that we are not prepared for such a difficult task, the Lord gives us what we need to do as he asks. We are given the strength of the Holy Spirit, God’s own strength, to tap into at need.
Probably the hardest part for us is to remember that we are actually sent. So often we climb out of bed in the morning and forget that part of what we are asked to do each day is to be the disciple sent into the world. We walk out thinking only of going to work, to school or even to do something around the house and we forget that part of what we do is in response to God’s call through his Son.
It is difficult to keep that constantly before us; to remember always that we are sent. Perhaps we should adopt a little mechanism to help us. Perhaps we should put something by the door or bed where we would be sure to see it. That something, whether it is a written prayer or a symbol would remind us that we are going out as one of God’s own children to do not just our daily tasks but his work as well.
Whatever we accomplish today, we can certainly end the day with a prayer of hope; that what good we accomplished today will have been for his greater glory; that our actions might be seen by others as signs of his continued presence. May God grant us a safe and prosperous trip this and each day.
Pax
[1] The picture is “The Seventy Disciples are Sent out Two by Two” by James Tissot, 1886-96.
No comments:
Post a Comment