Joyful Enthusiasm Is the Mark of Discipleship.
Dear Parishioners,
In the church liturgical calendar, the major feasts and solemnities have been completed and now the ordinary time begins noticeable using green color in our altar decoration and priest’s vestment. The green symbolizes fresh beginning, new life, and joyful hope of the gospel message.
Today’s scripture readings reflect enthusiasm and happiness as seen in the message of prophet Isaiah who announces the end of suffering and trials of Jerusalem. He speaks of a new era of prosperity, hope and abiding presence of the Lord to his people. He sees joy in the fulfillment of God’s promise to Jerusalem. A similar note of joy is recorded by the seventy-two disciples Jesus commissioned and sent on a mission to go ahead of him to every town and place he intended to visit. They returned from the mission satisfied with their accomplishment.
At the end of Eucharistic celebration, we are given a mandate to go and proclaim the Gospel. Like the seventy-two disciples who went on their mission with sense of joy and urgency. They are charged to speak by example as well as by word. Although, their mission was limited to specific locations where Jesus intended to visit, they were like scouts who were sent to advance the publicity of the coming Jesus to those areas. This is the first step toward evangelization. It is open to anyone who wants to do it but must be commissioned and sent. The seventy-two disciples did not go on their own accord, rather it was Jesus Christ who commissioned them.
Today, he continues to call us to mission and the church to commission us on his behalf. When you hear the word evangelization, do not look back or sideways. It is addressed to you. All the baptized have sacred obligation to serve the mission. He asks us to pray to the Father that the laborers may be available to the mission. It is the Lord who designates and sends those he will use to speak to others. Therefore, our mission and tasks vary, and each person is called to a specific role or vocation. As the Lord gives directives to the disciples, so does the Church continue to act on his behalf, giving us directives on how best to respond to the mission.
The Lord implored an imagery of lambs and wolves to further clarify the condition for the mission and what to expect of his disciples. He sends them out “as lambs in the midst of wolves.” A lamb is associated with gentleness, lives in a flock while depending on its shepherd. While a wolf is a strong, crafty, and rough savage animal that satisfies its needs on its own. “By the virtue of its energy and its strong character, the wolf imposes his will on others and forces them to submit to him.” The lamb depends on its shepherd for resources and security.
That is why Jesus first instruction is that his disciples strip down: “no walking staff or travelling bag or sandals.” They are to be signs of humility, simplicity, and gentleness. They are to announce peace and make dwelling among those who welcome peace unlike the rapacious wolf who will not move from house to house, rather seeking his own satisfaction.
There is a gentle stubbornness associated with lamb who keeps repeating what he is commissioned to say even though people do not want to hear him or what he has to say. He would prefer to do that than to react violently against his rejection by those who oppose him.
Our task is to speak the truth of the gospel which we have received with joyful enthusiasm. Like Saint Paul who never hesitated to preach the Gospel in season and out of season even at a great cost.
Sincerely Yours In The Lord,
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
