Daily Reflection – 7/10/19
Sacred Scripture
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” ( Matthew 10:1-7)
Reflection
Today, Jesus empowers his disciples. He summons them and then he gives them authority over unclean spirits. They are to drive out these spirits and cure every disease and every illness. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the disciples were in our midst today?
Imagine yourself as one of these disciples. Jesus is standing right in front of you and giving you these instructions. How do you think you would respond? Would you take Jesus’ words literally? Would you believe that you had been given the power to drive out demons and unclean spirits and to heal the afflicted? Are you anxious or fearful about this call? Or are you raring to go and ready try out your new powers?
The reality is that as Lord of the harvest, he has called each one of us. Our vocation as an apostle, is not a question of our wanting to be one. It is not a question of our talents or compelling feelings for this or that, but of our faith-driven awareness of God asking and our responding. Why are we where we are now in our vocation in life? In our marriage? In a particular lay movement? We can never know fully, for only God knows the depths of his own wisdom. This is the first mystery of the Kingdom that touches each one of us personally: God called, he willed it, and we said “yes.” This is the only answer an apostle must seek. Anything else slows down the mission and interrupts the dialogue of love and service to the mission.
Our Mission as disciples of Jesus is not merely a spiritual enterprise and not only to a select view. It is a practical mission, which includes the material, economic and tangible areas of people’s lives, and must include all. As disciples called to Mission we are called to make the world we live in a better place for everyone. We are asked to be conduits of his peace and his love. We are asked to stand against those who seek to challenge his command of love. We are asked to be reflections of His teachings in all that we do.
Prayer of The Day
Lord, help my faith in You and my love of You to be deep, stable and strong. Help me to love You first and foremost out of a pure love for You. Teach us to be Your faithful missionaries in word and in action. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
Daily Note
Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for his glory?
