GOING back to his hometown of Nazareth after a successful mission to other places, Jesus preached in the synagogue. Quoting from the prophet Isaiah, he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).
From last Sunday’s gospel (Mark 6:1-6), we know the people’s reaction to this preaching. Many were astonished, wondering, “Where did this man get all of this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!” But with this astonishment also came unbelief, “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.” The gospel continues that because of the people’s lack of faith, Jesus was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying hands on them. In another version of this incident, we learn that the people in the synagogue were all filled with fury. “They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away” (Luke 4:28-29).
This Sunday’s gospel (Mark 6:7-13) is a continuation of this event. This time, he summons his twelve apostles to help him carry out his mission; they were to become messengers of good news about the kingdom of God. The gospel tells us that he gave them authority over unclean spirits (verse 7), and as a result, they drove out many demons and cured the sick (verse 12).
All the apostles have died long ago, but the Church, whose members are the successors of the apostles, and all believers, has continued the work of discipleship. It was serious in carrying out Jesus’ Great Commission, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a).
We all partake of this mission; not everyone is called to become a priest, pastor, deacon, or a consecrated man and woman to do so. St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans (12:4-8), teaches us that we are parts of one body − the Church – and that since everyone was gifts according to God’s grace, we are to use these gifts for the good of all – be these be in prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or in doing acts of mercy. In fact, we can be God’s messengers right in our own families, circles of friends, community, places of work or study, or in any group we find ourselves belonging to. And our sharing of the good news is not limited to the use of words only, but can also be done by giving a good witness of a Godly life. Jesus teaches us, “You are the light of the world. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14, 16).
In sending out his apostles, Jesus gave them the instruction, “to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in your belts; to wear sandals but no a second tunic” (Mark 6:8-9). While modern-day missionaries will find this logistically impractical to follow literally, the spirit behind Jesus’ instruction is what really matters, and that is, total dependence on God by anyone in the mission field. Anyone sent by God to do something or to go somewhere for his purpose must rest in Divine Providence, believing that God will provide everything that he needs. “Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching. For the scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing,’ and, ‘A worker deserves his pay’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Not at all times, however, will we be successful when we share God’s word to others – be this in speech or in deeds. Jesus tells us, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18, 20b). He also instructs us, “Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them” (Mark 6:11). When we’ve become faithful but unsuccessful in our works for the Lord, our consolation is that nothing we do for God is ever wasted. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Thus, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). God will reward every good deed that have done.
Finally, whatever the outcome of our service to God, let us remember that we are not alone in our labors. God is with us every step of the way. As what Jesus has promised us in the conclusion of the Great Commission, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).