Thursday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th February, 2021

 Thursday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th February, 2021

Readings: Heb. 12:18-19.21-24, Ps.47, Mark 6:7-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE CONDITION AND NATURE OF OUR MISSION

The rebellious nature of humanity have always keep us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. Hence, humanity have always failed to understand the true ways of God his creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love towards us. In every generation God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity. This is exactly what we have in our Gospel passage today, where Jesus sent his twelve disciples, the foundation of the future Church community, to do exactly the same work of evangelization that he has been doing.

 Hence, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, instruct them to preach repentance, that radical conversion towards the vision of the Kingdom, they were to anoint the sick and heal them. These three activities cover the whole nature of the human person: spiritual, mental and physical. Healing and wholeness, health and holiness. In this mission, they were instructed to travel lightly, bringing only what they absolutely need. No food or money or even a change of clothes. They will not need these things because they will be taken care of by the people they serve. 

So in this Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for a task ahead. He let's them experience the nature of their mission, the challenges, obstacles and dangers which await them. He gave them the  guidelines about the mission and sent them out.  So, they succeeded because the power of God was working in them. The message entrusted to the disciples by Jesus is to offer peace and announce the coming of God's kingdom. This same message of peace and justice, forgiveness and healing have been entrusted to the Church down the centuries. 

Now it is our turn to witness to it. The disciples returned with joy. We will experience that same joy when we do what the Lord wants because, our joy is rooted in our identifying with Jesus, not in what we do. So the source of our joy should be our status in heaven as beloved sons and daughters of God, and not on our success over the evil forces or the things of this passing world. Thus, the Lord has entrusted to us an awesome responsibility and privilege to carry the message of God’s love, peace and mercy to the world.

Little wonder, in our first reading we are reminded of who we are. Because by the virtue of this mission we are invited to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. Unfortunate many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecutions from the people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving.

Dear friends, today we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission,  calling humanity  to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes in order to embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgement day.  Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, as we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission for which you sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.