FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

You Are Also Called To Spread The Word

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, July 7, 2013

The Twelve Apostles of Jesus were always with Jesus, accompanying him wherever he went except for few occasions Jesus was with only the Three Specials- Peter, James and John. The Apostles were with him as he went from village to village, from region to region preaching, teaching, healing, and liberating those held hostage by the spirits of demons. They were on the boat when Jesus calmed the raging sea (Mark 4:34-44),  and thereafter exclaimed: “Who is this man that even the wind and sea obey him?” They were there when he cured the Ten Lepers exiled and ex-communicated from their communities, families and friends (Luke 17:11-19). They were there when Jesus received the gratitude of one of them who came back to show appreciation. The Apostles were there when Jesus spoke the words “Talitha koum!” which means “little girl, I say to you, get up.” They were there and saw the joy, the excitement and the gratitude on the glowing face of Jairus as he witnessed the “second life” of his daughter (Mark 5:35-43). They were there when the blind Bartimaeus had his sight restored by Jesus (Luke 18: 35-43). They also witnessed the raising of the dead Lazarus to life (John 11:1-43). They saw Jesus multiplied five loafs of bread and two fish to feed the multitudes who came to listen to his words of wisdom. These events surely changed the lives of the Twelve. They surely never remained the same again after witnessing these great events. They heard Jesus preach the most beautiful message “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). And at some point in his ministry, Jesus called the Twelve and sent them out two by two and also gave them authority to cast out evil spirits (Mark 6:7). Mark 6:12 tells us that in total obedience to Jesus, the Twelve went out and preached to people to repent; they also drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.  

In today’s gospel taking from Luke 10:1-12, 17-20, Jesus sends out 72 others who also had witnessed and experienced God’s redeeming love. Like the Twelve, they also had heard the life-changing message of Jesus and had been convinced that he is the Savior of humanity. The Twelve Apostles primarily represent the pope and the bishops who are the leaders of the Church today (the priests, deacons, and all the religious men and women only assist the Church’s leaders in carrying out the mission of the Church, which is essentially speaking the mission of the Jesus Christ. Now, it is not wrong to say that the 72 represent you, the lay faithful. This means that the spreading of the Good News, the witnessing of the Gospel is not an exclusive duty for the ordained and the professed alone. All God’s people are called to “spread abroad a living witness to him, especially by a life of faith and love and by offering to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips praising his name” (Lumen Gentium, 12). By the virtue of our baptism, all Christians not just the ordained and the professed alone but also you the lay faithful of God are the “People of God” and each person in his or her own way is called to join in the spreading of the message: “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

While sending out the 72, Jesus gave the following injunctions: “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals…” which means travel light and don’t be bogged down by material things. It is easy to get ensnared and enslaved by the things of this life. Simplicity of life will attract the attention and admiration of both the poor and the rich. Simplicity will enable them to primarily be concerned about the mission.  Traveling light meant that the 72 would trust in the providence of God for their daily needs. The Lord was simply telling them to be like that the “lilies of the field” and “birds of the air” that rely entirely on the goodness of God to survive. The disciples were to rely on the God-given hospitality of those they visit.

Do you understand what the Lord is teaching us today? He’s demonstrating that there ‘s a close link between talking the talk of faith and walking the walk of faith. The obedience of faith matters as much as the expression of faith. The Lord was saying to them “I am not sending you out only to tell people about faith in God, I am also sending you out to demonstrate to them what would happen to them when they really believe and trust in God.” By telling the 72 missionaries not to worry about food and clothing but to trust in God – Jesus was telling them not to tell people about faith alone but to let their listeners see in their lives what it means to trust God even in simple things like food and clothes.

Jesus also tells them “greet no one along the way.” This is not an instruction to ignore, rebuff and snub people. It is not an instruction to discourtesy. It’s rather an instruction on the seriousness of the mission. In carrying out the mission of God, we must not turn aside or linger on the lesser things while the great things call him. These instructions speak volume of the urgency of the task. We must express our Christian faith; we must let others know about our faith in Jesus Christ. But in doing that, we must guard against denying or betraying our faith in Jesus by the type of life we live. Christianity is not just a religion, it is a way of life. It is a culture.

The 72 returned with joy because they did what Jesus ask them to do. Joy is one treasure that those who join in the mission of Jesus will never lack. Rejoicing with his disciples, Jesus cautioned them against being proud and arrogant. He urged them to rejoice not because of what they have accomplished but because their names are written in heaven. The greatest glory of a Christian is not what he/she has done but what God has done for him/her and through him/her. 

As we go about doing the very task and assignment given to us by the Lord, which is preaching that “the Kingdom of the God is close at hand,” let us remember that the most effective way of doing that is by embracing the rare virtues of humility and simplicity. Preachers of the Christian message who enrich themselves inordinately and emphasize so much on material prosperity are clearly “carrying too many bags, too many sacks, and lots of sandals.” And instead of preaching that the “Kingdom of God is close at hand” they are busy seeking out rich people pouring praises on them when the gospel says “Greet no one along the way.” Let us therefore go after the Lord’s business. The call to spread the Christian message is not just the sole duty of priests, you are also involved. Let your witness of the gospel make Jesus say “I observed Satan fall like lightening from the sky.”