Sunday, July 3, 2022

 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-19)

A cherished freedom in the United States is freedom of religion. In this country everyone can practice his or her own religion without interference. Americans respect religion because it elevates the person beyond the limits of individualism. It gives its adherents at least two values ​​necessary for the good life. First, it infuses them with a communal spirit so that they cooperate with others. Second, it instills in them a moral code so that they treat one another fairly.

With religious plurality it is tempting to consider our Catholic faith the same as other religions. It is true that like all religions we have doctrines and customs that enable us to live in peace. But the Christian faith has a more transcendent purpose than Judaism or Buddhism. It exists to transform people into daughters and sons of God worthy of eternal life.

In the Gospel today, Jesus prepares the Church to spread the faith to the world. He commissions seventy-two disciples to preach the kingdom of God. The commission can be considered as only a preliminary to the great sending of Pentecost. However, several essential characteristics of the mission are seen in the Lord's instructions to his disciples. It is worth reflecting on the contents of his message to see how they apply today. As popes since St. Paul VI have told us, all Catholic Christians are "missionary disciples." We are called to form ourselves in the faith. Then we are sent out to call others to know Christ’s kingdom. We don't have to leave our communities to respond to the mission. Even our relatives and friends do not know goodness of the kingdom.

First, Jesus wants his missionaries to pray for the success of their efforts. Not only is their number not sufficient to carry out the task but also their capabilities often lack rigor. Without the Holy Spirit directing the mission, it would be as futile as cutting down a forest with a single axe. We pray to be fair in everything we do so that the whole world sees our lives reflecting Christ.

The mission challenges us when our faith conflicts with contemporary values. Young people may roll their eyes when we assert that intimate relationships are reserved for marriage. But it is not only a teaching of the long Judea-Christian tradition but also a precept of natural law. Many people are now protesting the judgment that allows laws prohibiting abortion. However, we must proclaim the fundamental right to life. Jesus tells the seventy-two that he sends them out as lambs among wolves. Although those who oppose us on these issues are not evil, their ideas can tear at the fabric of society.

Jesus does not want his disciples to carry “no money bag, no pack, no sandals” on the mission. In other words, he doesn't want them to rely on their own resources, but to trust God for their welfare. In an environment of plenty, we have to show that it is human relationships, especially friendship with God, that ultimately matter. We live in order to share with others in love, not to accumulate and spend wealth. As an exemplar of the true missionary, Saint Paul says that he has been crucified to the world. Like Jesus he sacrificed every comfort to introduce pagans to Christ.

“All religions are the same. They worship the same God.” Sometimes we hear this saying in defense of a person who no longer practices the Catholic faith. How should we respond? We always want to thank God that the person seeks the Lord with others through religion. We can affirm the person if he lives the gospel in pursuit of God. However, it is only logical to regret that he or she is deprived of the Eucharist. With it, Jesus nourishes us so that we can carry out his mission. He provides us with the resources to not cower before the wolves.

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