THE CALL AND MISSION OF THE TWELVE
Exodus 19:2-6; Psalm 99; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36-10:8
Our readings for today have a strong emphasis on calling and mission. Call is one of the many biblical terms that are usually misinterpreted. Because God’s call is not well discerned churches are birthed on a daily bases yet conversion is like a mockery. Everybody thinks that the call of God is about opening churches. The readings today will help us to understand this better.
1. We are called to holiness: The first reading says you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We are called to uphold the covenant and God’s commands with unwavering faith and honesty in order to live as his sons and daughters. Beloved the primary call of every Christian is the call to holiness also known as the universal call to holiness. All people are called to be holy, and this is based on Matthew 5:48: “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect”. The Lord said to Abraham: “Walk before me, and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1). Before you start talking about how God has called you to be a pastor, bishop, or prophet, know that holiness of life is the most essential call.
2. We are called to Mission: Matthew tells us about the appointment of the twelve who were to assist Jesus in his mission. All ordained ministers are in this category, it is our primary duty to proclaim the good news of Christ. Christ was passionate about mission and so he died that all might be saved. We should not be clouded by fashions but develop authentic passion to rescue the world from sin. We are to heal, love, and preach repentance. The greatness of a church is not judged by her seating capacity but by her sending capacity. So beyond the comfort of the pulpit we must go out to the streets. Just as the names of the twelve were called out so we have been called personally and we are going to give account of our lives and mission. All of us cannot be ordained ministers or religious, but we are all called to spread the gospel through our actions and interactions with others.
3 No mission without compassion: Jesus saw a great crowd; and he had compassion on them. There are two forms of compassion: they are Absolute compassion and relative compassion. Absolute compassion is a compassion for those who suffer for what they have not done and those who suffer for what they have done. Relative compassion addresses the difference between the former and the latter. So one is compassionate depending on how the issues appeal to him or her. But Christ wants us to have absolute compassion. The second reading says; while we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why one will you hardly die for your a righteous man, Christ died for us (Rom.5:6-8). And he says in Luke 6:36 Jesus says “be compassionate as my heavenly Father is compassionate”. So we are not choosy while being compassionate. That is why we visit the prison and the sick; some of them are guilty some of them are not but we visit them all the same – that is absolute compassion. To be compassionate is to recognize the suffering of others and then take action to help. Christ felt our pains and he helped us. He felt the pains and tears of Martha and Mary at the death of Lazarus and he helped them. If we can’t feel the situation of others, we can’t help them. Mission springs from love. You don’t have to be rich to reach out. Without compassion, there is no mission. A compassionate person embodies a tangible expression of love for those who are suffering. 1Peter 3:8 says “Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” We can’t represent Christ if we are not compassionate.
4.Mission goes with instructions: To keep the divine fire burning we must kindle it with care. So Jesus sent them on mission and gave them instructions. If we keep to instructions, we shall not end in destruction. So, in Matth 10:8 Jesus instructed the twelve saying “You received without charge: give without charge”. We must dispense this grace without charges. Sadly enough many men of God charge for spiritual gifts today. Consultation fee has become the norm in many churches. Beloved, wherever charges surface before grace or after grace is not a church but a business centre. True missionaries deliver without charge. Acts 8: 18-20 “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. Peter answered: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! This is the secret of the word “SIMONY” the buying or selling of something spiritual or closely connected with the spiritual. In fact for me it should be “SEE MONEY”; for some of us, once we see money we don’t think well. We think we can use money for everything; there are some doors that money cannot open; but grace can. Money is not everything. Power is generously given not sold. (Acts 1:8) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” How much did they pay for it? Acts 10:38 “You yourselves know . . . how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” it was not money based. We have received without charge and so we must pass that on without charge.
LET US PRAY
O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our pleas, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
