FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR – C (Is 66:10-14c; Gal 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20) Theme: We are the Spokesman of Jesus in the World Reflection: We Have Our Consolation In Jerusalem - We are entering into the fourteenth Sunday of the Ordinary Time of the Year. In this year C, we are reflecting on the Gospel of Luke, which can be also named as the Gospel of the Mission. Luke, being the disciple of St. Paul the missionary, underlines the life of Jesus as a Journey towards the accomplishment of the mission for which he has come into the world. He dedicates almost eleven chapters (9:51-19:29) to affirm the nature and effect of the mission Jesus is about to complete in Jerusalem. In fact, we have already reflected in the last Sunday that Jesus has taken a firm decision to move towards Jerusalem. He heads towards the Holy City because it is the place where he has his destiny. Meditating this aspect we have also spoken that his journey towards Jerusalem is a journey towards the cross – therefore, to the passion and death – and towards the resurrection, therefore, to the fullness of life. - Today’s gospel falls into this context of Jesus’ missionary journey. His journey towards the completion of the mission is the second phase of Luke’s gospel. The first phase takes place in Galilee and it begins with the presentation of the program by Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth (Lk 4:14-21). From there he moves on to predicate the Good News of God’s Kingdom through the words and deeds, that is , through the parables and miracles. The second phase begins with the entry of Jesus into Samaria and his sending of messengers before him (9:52). It continues with the calling to himself few more disciples (9:57-62). It has its actual effect, with today’s gospel reading, with the designation of seventy two disciple into the missionary journey with the program of proclamation and of action (10:1-16). The missionary element is obvious here: the seventy two disciples are not anymore from the Galilee but from Samaria, the territory of cursed and excommunicated. The community of disciples that Jesus sends out for mission is no more like the community of who live as individuals but a community which lives amidst the people. For him the mission has to be for the people and from the people and that is why the missionaries he sends have to stay among the people. Indeed, Jesus’ presence and ministry itself is the finest example of this mission for the people. He is called “Immanuel” – God with us. - Jesus carries his mission first putting himself in the first place. He is not the one who says and does not do. He says and does and only after leaving personal example, he calls his disciples to follow his life and his way. It is for this he places himself in the way towards the renunciation, cross, suffering, death and resurrection. In the context of today’s gospel it is evident: he is moving towards his mission and the he sends also his disciples to continue and fulfill the mission he has initiated. As the consequence, Jesus sends the seventy two disciples, two by two, to the places where he himself desired to go. The mission of Jesus is entrusted to and placed in the hands of the disciples. They are to head towards the completion of the mission. But what is the mission that he is sending them out? Apart from the exegetical explanation of the gospel passage, we can find here four types of mission that the disciples are called for: mission of prayer, mission of dependence, mission of peace and mission of the proclamation. Readings: Mission Means To Be in the Foot Steps of Jesus, the Master - Let us take the example of Jesus himself. He has assumed into himself all these four elements. He never ceased to pray. Before beginning any work of his Father he dialogues with his Father. He realizes fully his mission in his relationship with his Father as the one who sent him and as the one in whose name he is in this world. The relationship of Jesus with his Father is ultimately evident in his prayer. He himself carries on the mission of prayer. He always witnessed by his words and deeds that it is the Father who does everything in the Spirit. He never worked for his glory but for the glory of his Father. He demonstrates his utter dependence on his Father’s will in every instance of his life. He never claims anything for himself. In this it is obvious that Jesus carries within himself the mission of dependence on his Father. Mission of peace. Jesus not only proclaimed the word of peace saying “I leave peace, my peace I give you”, but manifested an attitude of peace in his life. Thus he becomes “our peace” as Paul exclaims. Finally, the mission of the proclamation of the Good News of the Kingdom is seen in every word of his and in every deed of his. He is the inauguration of the Gospel of salvation. Thus he is the “Word” of God made Flesh and carries in his very nature and existence the mission of the proclamation. He is the master of the Mission and the disciples are called to choose the same way in order to continue the good work that God has designed for the redemption of humanity. - Mission of Prayer: Jesus invites and sends his disciples for the mission of prayer. Prayer is the first element that the disciple has to fulfill. He needs to pray for the growth of the kingdom of God. Jesus says: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to sent out laborers into his harvest” (v.2). The entire world, the field of God’s love, is to be re-filled with the redemptive grace of the Lord. But the Christians, and still those practice the faith, are very few. In this context of the scarcity of testimonies, the first thing that one has to do to continue with the mission is the prayer. The High Priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 is the boost for this. Jesus prays for all his disciples so that they become strong in reaping the harvest. With the prayer the world can be empowered with the grace of the Lord. - Mission of Dependence: The second missionary task is to be always dependent on only the providence from above. It is Jesus who chooses and sends his disciples and he will provide what is essential and necessary for life. The disciple has to concentrate all his life only on the mission that is entrusted without any preoccupation and worry for the earthly securities. Indeed, Jesus admonishes his disciples not to carry any purse, any bag or any sandals (v.4). The mission is to be carried with the fullness of the mind and heart. As Jesus, disciples too do not belong to this world but destined to the other life, and therefore, they have to come out of the earthly worries and fleshy passions and have to throw themselves utterly on the providence of God. For this, they are called and invited with the mission of dependence. - Mission of Peace: Already in the beginning, in his first discourse on the mountain, found in Mathew 5:8 Jesus addresses: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”. Peace is the salutary gift that the disciple has to extend to those whom he meets. The disciple indeed is sent out with the mission of peace. The first words of the missionary are to be these as Jesus says: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘peace to this house!’ (v.5). - Mission of Proclamation: Finally, the disciples are sent out with the mission of proclaiming the good news that “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (v.9). All the above elements – mission of prayer, dependence and the peace – are in view of its realization in the proclaiming the values of the kingdom of God. It is not just with the words. The proclamation has to be testified with the life itself as Jesus himself. He speaks about the kingdom and offers his entire life for this kingdom. So also the disciple has to follow the same way of renunciation, commitment to take up the cross and finally accomplishing the mission with his testimony of life. Conclusion: We are the Carriers of Jesus Mission - With the Baptism every one of us is given the mission of standing for Jesus and of proclaiming the life of the kingdom of God. It is not the task of just Pope, bishops, priests and deacons but of every baptized Christian. We need to carry within us therefore these elements of the mission: constant prayer, utter dependence on the Lord, the interior peaceful attitude and the dedication to proclaim. We cannot give what we have. We need to fill ourselves first with these. As Jesus has assumed all these aspects into himself and thus has given testimony for these, so also the disciple. We have to allow ourselves to be penetrated deeply into the Lord’s mission with the unceasing prayer, our deeper union with him in the worship of praise and thanksgiving. We are often immersed in the false passions of the world and we lose our peace and serenity with this. We are invited to analyze well our life and come out of these clutches that block us from the Christian vocation. In order to dedicate our entire life without any personal reservations and preoccupations we need to comprehend well the way of the mission that Jesus himself shows by moving towards Jerusalem, towards the cross. Let us realize and acknowledge our mission and be the authentic carriers of it. Amen.