Gospel Reflection for 7th July The 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sent out to proclaim the Good News
The 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sent out to proclaim the Good News
It is good to remember why Jesus came and what his mission was.
He stated it very clearly and directly when he stood up in the synagogue and said for all to hear,
‘I have been sent to proclaim the good news to the poor.’
At the time of Jesus those who were sick in any way were ignored, despised and kept away from the temple and the synagogue. They were seen, treated and condemned as sinners and therefore so far out of God’s reach. Jesus came to put the record straight, and to challenge the assumptions of the self-righteous religious leaders who thought they knew better and were better than others.
Jesus came with the radical message that God loved those everyone else looked down because they were poor and marginalised. Even when he walked the roads of Jerusalem, Jesus knew he could not carry out his mission on his own. He called others to be his companions on the journey as he preached to people and healed them. He was preparing his followers so that they could carry on his work when he was gone.
In the gospel today, Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent then out ahead of him in pairs to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. These were his co-workers; these he called by name so that they could share in and be part of his ministry and mission.
Jesus is very direct when he sends them out in his name. He gives them very clear and direct instructions of what to carry, what to do, what to say and how to treat those they meet. As he came to share and proclaim the good news to the poor, now Jesus is sending his closest friends out to do the same. He called them by name, trained them and is now sending them out as his missionary disciples.
It would be a great mistake to think that this gospel is just history and that is has nothing to say to us or nothing to do with us today; nothing could be further from the truth. Today, we are the very ones who are called by name by the same Jesus.
You and I are now sent out in his name to live and share the good news of the gospel with those meet each and every day. We are called to share the good news of the gospel with our family, our friends and neighbours and those who meet in our parish community.
In his letter to the Church, The Joy of the Gospel, written in 2013, Pope Francis encourages and challenges us with this message: Because of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples… this calls for the personal involvement on the part of each of the baptised. Every Christian is challenged, here and now to be actively engaged in proclaiming the good news… we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ or ‘missionaries’, but rather that we are always missionary disciples.’(120).
Strong words indeed!!
The danger is that we will leave this to someone else. If I don’t proclaim the good news of the gospel, who will? If I don’t do it now, when will I do it? If I don’t do here, where will I proclaim the good news of the gospel?
Br Michael Moore OMI
| Gospel | Luke 10 1-12 17-20 © |
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| Your peace will rest on that man |
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