Happy July (already)!
As the rising thermometer impacts the environment, we, baptized in Christ Jesus, are warmed by the fire within, the Holy Spirit. Through our baptism in Christ and response to the gift of this faith we are called to discipleship; a calling from God through Jesus and set aflame by the Holy Spirit, who stirs in us the power to speak as we are sent into the world to evangelize, to bring Christ to others, to share his mercy, to bring his peace. At times we are met with doubt or even flat out rejection. Yet the Holy Spirit enters, transforms us from within and pours out grace as we, too, are SENT to proclaim; to speak, engage and nurture truth. In the upcoming Mass readings for the 14th and 15th Sundays in Ordinary Time we see the mission to proclaim is dependent upon the power of the Spirit. Thus, “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy” (Ps 123).
Transformed to speak (Ez 2:2-5)
It is one thing to hear the voice of God, have the Holy Spirit enter you, set you back on your feet and then be asked to share God’s words to rebels who turned away from him, described as “hard of face and obstinate of heart are they.” But by the time you speak to them, whether they appreciate you or not, whether they listen to you or not, whether they trust in what you are saying is true or not, they will KNOW you are a prophet. What can Ezekiel, the great prophet in this story, say to this invitation? “Get someone else, Lord? Not today, I am just not feeling it, God?” What can we say to the same? If you back up to Ezekiel, Chapter 1, he encounters God and afterwards “fell on his face and then heard the voice of God” (Ez 1:28). As God spoke, the Spirit entered Ezekiel and stood him up. The Spirit entered Ezekiel and from within transformed him to fulfill his call to speak, to engage and to nurture truth to those he would have otherwise not engaged. (To continue the story, I suggest reading and reflecting on the rest of Ezekiel.)
Likewise, St. Paul, transformed by the Holy Spirt to speak, engaged and nurtured by the truth of Christ Jesus, met much resistance to the point of being constantly beaten down not only by men but also by an angel of Satan, referred to as a “thorn” (2 Cor 12:7-10). God’s grace is sufficient for St. Paul’s plea to alleviate the struggle. In fact, reliance on God to endure such hardship added to the impact of the witness of such endurance so others see this reliance which is, in fact, a proclamation of the power of Christ. St. Paul reminds us, “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and constraints for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).
Welcome home? (Mk 6:1-6)
Jesus, reading from the scroll of Isaiah, said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor” (Lk 4:18). We know by the power of the Holy Spirit, God becomes man. Emmanuel. Jesus. The one sent. Yet, he also faced rejection, including utter unbelief at his own home synagogue, his place of prayer and Scripture as he grew up. Today we would say it is his home church. Even Jesus, as he engaged those gathered, met resistance and doubt for they could not believe that this man, the carpenter, could have such wisdom. Jesus called them out, saying, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” There will be times when our proclamation of Jesus will be rejected. But there will also be times of fruitfulness.
Two by two (Mk 6:7-13)
The apostles are sent by Jesus, “two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” He instructed them to only take the clothes on their back, sandals on their feet and walking sticks. Nothing else. Nothing. They were to preach repentance. Preach truth. To those who would welcome them into their home they would remain a guest. If rejected, they were to move on. They were sent. They proclaimed. They drove out evil with authority given to them by Jesus and anointed the sick, who were cured. They took nothing with them except a heart for the mission and returned with … well, we will read about that on the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
For us … here and now
Do I recognize the power of the Holy Spirit within me? Am I answering the call to be sent and proclaim truth, mercy and peace? Am I in conversations where I hear contradiction to the teachings of Jesus, yet I am afraid to speak the truth for fear of rejection or hate? Have I asked the Lord for courage to say what is true with charity and compassion? How does my faith lead others to Jesus? Does my life resound with the joy and hope in the Lord? Do I “bring glad tidings to the poor?” (Lk 4:18). Do I know I am sent by God on mission each moment of the day, some days more obvious than others? Who is walking with me “door to door” as we together proclaim the greatness of eternal salvation in God through Jesus Christ?
Let us pray St. Paul’s words, “May the father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call” (Eph 1:17-18). Let us hope and walk as one in Jesus Christ. Amen. JMJ
Year of St. Joseph
Most holy St. Joseph, guardian of Christ, we ask for your intercession throughout our mission that we may be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit from within to compassionately proclaim the truth of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.