Theme: The Mission of the Twelve: An Example
(With a special dedication to the seminarians on Apostolic work)
Since the creation of
the world, God has never ceased to make Himself present among His people. He
always used the Patriarchs, Kings, Prophets, Apostles, Priests and other
ministers to make His presence felt in the world. In a special way, He is also
making Himself present in the world through each and every one of us whom He
has sent into the world.
In the gospel reading
(Mk. 6:7-13), Jesus made himself more present among the people by sending his
twelve apostles to them. Today, he has also sent you to the world as he did to
the twelve. Your mandate remains the same with the twelve to evangelize the
people and make things better for them but through various approaches as
medical doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, priests, etc. He has given you
the authority over every obstacle and has charged you with the responsibility
of making the world a better place.
So how do you fulfill
your mission to the world? How have you made the presence of Christ who has
sent you into the world felt among His people? How have you contributed to the
alleviation of people’s problems and made the world a better place to live? Do
you work in a manner that depicts your collaboration to work for the good of
humanity after the mind of Christ who went about doing good? Have you preached
the Good News through your life style?
As a student, farmer,
health worker, trader, priest, religious, seminarian, etc, what motivates your
mission among the people of God? Are you like Amaziah in the first reading (Amos
7:12-15) who thinks that our mission or vocation is solely to earn money? Be
disposed like Amos to see your work or vocation as a calling from God and so be
disposed to co-operate with His divine will for humanity.
Beloved friends, no matter how difficult your calling or work may be or how despondent you may be, the second reading (Eph 1:3-14) assures you that God chose you to do that even before the world was made. For this reason, He chose us in Christ as His adopted sons and daughters. He gave us the free gift of His beloved through whom we receive forgiveness of sins and the riches of God’s graces. So be assured that you can always find help and grace from God through Jesus Christ when you are in need instead of taking undue advantage of your work/vocation.
To my beloved and
fellow seminarians on apostolic work especially those of us beginning today
(Okigwe Diocese, Nigeria), God is addressing us in today’s readings. Like Amos
in the 1st reading, let us be reminded we have not called ourselves;
rather, God has called us like Amos to go and prophesy to His people. Let the
people be our target and not the bread that comes from the people. They have
prepared to receive us so let us be prepared to work for them.
The second reading
reminds us of God’s graces available for us. Through these graces we all have
been redeemed and we have to collaborate with these graces in helping our people
appreciate and live out the Good News of salvation.
The gospel reading
reminds us of the missionary nature of our work. Do not expect the whole world
to welcome us, let us be disposed for obstacles on the way which we shall surmount
with the grace of God. Therefore, let us not be afraid. Let us not entertain
the people but preach repentance. Let us also remember to keep behind all
useless anxieties, worries and possessions that would distract us so that at the
end, we come back with success stories. May the Good Lord bless and crown our
efforts with success. Amen. God loves you.
weldone for this beautiful homily
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