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.
