Called to Be Sent

Disciples, called to follow, are also sent. As life-giving missionary disciples, we are called to be sent into the world to share the message of Jesus Christ: his teachings, his compassion, his commands, his life, his mercy. Our call begins through an encounter with the one doing the calling, Jesus. An encounter with Jesus is experienced in various ways. One may encounter Jesus while reading sacred texts, while praying or serving. One may encounter Jesus in the quietness within or perhaps even in suffering or still in the witness of a family member, a friend, a mentor, even a stranger. However we experience this, our mission begins with an encounter with Jesus. Once called by the power of the Holy Spirit, we grow in our relationship with Jesus and follow his command to “go out …” (Mt. 28: 19). We are sent.

In pairs, he sent them (Lk 10:1-12)

The upcoming Sunday Gospel for the 14th in Ordinary Time tells “The Mission of the Seventy-Two.” Jesus appoints 72 of his followers, outside of the Twelve Apostles, and sends them ahead of him to towns and villages with only the clothes on their back, “no money bag, no sack, and no shoes.” He instructs them to go from place to place, offering peace to the household. If received they are to stay at the home, eat what is provided, “cure the sick and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ ” If they are unwelcomed in a place, they are to shake the dust of that land off their sandals, proclaiming, “the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you; it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.” (referring to the Old Testament story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah found in Genesis). They knew the story; Sodom was demolished for deplorably turning away from God. This is a stern warning. 

The kingdom of God

The urgency of this message is significant in that the disciples were sent to prepare the people to receive Jesus, whose presence is God with us, God’s kingdom on earth. The power of the pairs speaks of two inspirations, namely the great commandment, followed by humility. The great commandment is love of God and neighbor. By our love of God, we are placed in community with others; in this case, another disciple, and together are “sent” to bear witness the message of Jesus Christ, preparing the way for others to receive him, to encounter him, to know him and to grow in relationship with him. Our love of neighbor is an outpouring of our love of God. Hence, we are sent to share his love and invite our neighbors to encounter Jesus Christ. 

In the experience of the 72, many are cured, and demons are cast out in the name of Jesus. They rejoiced and shared with Jesus all that took place, as he assured them to “rejoice, because their names are written in heaven.” Here, the virtue of humility is necessary. The actions of the disciples are guided by Jesus, whose power heals, converts and renews. 

Who is my neighbor? (Lk 10:25-37)

The 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time continues a few verses later in the Gospel of St. Luke, as we hear how Jesus is tested by a scholar of the Jewish law, which leads to a well-known parable of the good Samaritan. The scholar, to test Jesus, poses a question, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Mindful of the scholar’s disposition and since he is the “law expert,” Jesus invites him to give an answer. The scholar answers with the law, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus affirms.  Yet, the scholar, pridefully desires to prove himself correct, asks, “And who is my neighbor?” 

The good Samaritan

We know the parable well. A man was robbed, stripped, beaten and left to die on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho. Two temple officials, a priest and a Levite, both passed the victim without helping but rather placing the purification laws above helping this poor man. Yet, a least likely person, a Samaritan, whose culture was disdained by the Jewish people, was “moved with compassion, approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds, bandaged him, picked him up on his animal to take him to an inn and cared for him.” Not only that, as he left the next day, he offered two coins to the innkeeper to continue the care in his absence with a promise to repay him upon his return.” Jesus then asks the scholar  who was a neighbor to the victim. He replied, “The one who treated him with mercy.”

Mission of mercy

In this parable we realize how Jesus upholds the law and fulfills it. We, in a state of sin, are destitute on the road, beaten by evil and left to die in our fallen state, unable to care for ourselves. Many pass without hesitation, without involvement. Yet, Jesus Christ pours his precious blood, shed for us, into our sinful wounds, anoints us with the oil of salvation and takes away the sins of the world. He then “carries” us, to a place of sanctuary and healing, the inn, which St. John Chrysostom of Constantinople  writes, “For the inn is the church, which receives travelers, who are tired with their journey through the world, and oppressed with the load of their sins; where the wearied traveler casting down the burden of his sins is relieved, and after being refreshed is restored with wholesome food (the Eucharist). And this is what is here said and took care of him. For without is everything that is conflicting, hurtful and evil, while within the inn is contained all rest and health. 

Called to be sent

We are missionary disciples called and sent by Jesus to make known God’s teachings, compassion, commands, life and mercy. Our approach is rich with humility and joy. Opportunities occur each day that allow us to share our life in Christ with others and invite them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether they are close to God, find themselves in a “distant land,” or “beaten and left to die” on the road, a moment of our time lending support and offering prayer can lead another to encounter Jesus, experience conversion and embrace the sacraments. We are called to be sent to hand on the faith and support others as they answer their personal call and who then are sent. Disciples making disciples by the power of the Holy Spirit in the holy name of Jesus.

Eucharistic Revival: Shed for you

The church’s universal prayer for the month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus, a feast instituted in 1849 by Pope Pius IX to celebrate this fountain of salvation. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writes, “The blood of Christ is the pledge of God’s faithful love for humanity. May the Virgin Mary, who at the foot of the cross together with the Apostle John received the testament of Jesus’ blood, help us to rediscover the inestimable richness of this grace and to feel deep and everlasting gratitude for it” (Sept.  18, 2010 homily).

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.