Understanding Mission
AMOS 7:12–15; PSALM 84; EPHESIANS 1:3–14; MARK 6:7–13
The gospel reading today presents us with the “Mission of the Twelve.” The twelve here refer to the disciples. Jesus began the third stage of his ministry by organizing a mission throughout the province. He gave them the authority and power to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits. A reminder that mission demands restoration of souls to God, care for the sick, and other spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In addition, today’s readings bring to mind the following themes:
Mission (sent): “He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out.” (Mark 6:7). He summoned them, and in doing so, they learned the purpose of their call, and eventually they were sent on a mission. The call to be a disciple is a call to make disciples. We were summoned at our baptism and mandated to make disciples of all nations. Our faith is built on the message the disciples delivered. If we don’t evangelize, we will be dormant. If the Church does not send, it may end.
The urgent nature of mission: “Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no travelling bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.” (Mark 1:8-9). This explains the urgent nature of mission; it shows that mission takes priority over our comfort and convenience. Usually, when people want to make a journey outside their immediate territory, they ensure their comfort, feeding, and shelter. Some of us seek comfortable avenues and juicy zones. The call to preach is urgent, and the time frame is very short. Let us be prompt. In the first reading, God said to Amos, ‘Go, shepherd, and prophesy to my people Israel’. A shepherd was called to carry our missionary work. God relocated Amos from his lucrative job to a mission. We must learn the path of detachment and have the sense of urgency.
Distractions in mission: Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no travelling bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.” (Mark 1:8-9). The mission is very demanding. Anyone who is not able to control his or her appetite can’t succeed. “No bread, no travelling bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt” simply means no distraction. Distractions could be emotional, financial, material, etc. Basically, issues of money, bread, and clothes are some of the greatest forms of distraction today. Many of us ministers are already caught up in this web.
Reliance on God: “Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no travelling bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.” (Mark 1:8-9). Jesus’ instructions to travel light would make the disciples depend on God’s provision and power rather than on their own resources. All baptised people must learn to depend on God. We must not rely on our own understanding. When we empty ourselves for him, he fills us in his own way. Thus, Jesus was helping his disciples understand the need for absolute dependence on God so that, in the days of trials and hardship, they would manifest unwavering faith in God.
The message of mission: Jesus sent them out to preach the message of “repentance.” All the prophets of old preached repentance; John the Baptist preached repentance; Jesus preached repentance; and the disciples did the same. In our own time, the message of repentance is rarely preached in some churches. Some preachers are concerned with other themes. Let us remind the world of the need to repent.
Cooperation and collaboration: Our mission demands cooperation; we must continue to assist ourselves. We must join hands together, either as clerics or lay faithful. Jesus sent them out two by two because he desired proper collaboration. The task is enormous; if we don’t collaborate, the goal will be defeated. Even in family life, if we dont collaborate the family vision will suffer.
Opposition and persecution: Missionaries must be ready for opposition and resistance. Jesus said to them, ‘Where you are refused, as you walk away, shake off the dust from under your feet’. Oftentimes, we are too defensive and protective when we are aware of people’s slights and insults. Jesus invites us to shake off and leave the spite, ridicule, rancour, resistance, and unfriendliness behind. It is another way of saying that we must not transfer the anger into another territory. Transfer of anger can corrupt the message we are to convey.
FR. DANIEL EVBOTOKHAI
