Reading: Is. 66:10-14; Ps. 66; Gal.6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12.17-20
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD’S CALL TO SERVE
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the reason why God created us is to know, love, and serve him and to be with him in eternal joy. This can be seen as a foundational principle in Catholic faith and the essence of human existence. This affirms our belief that humanity's ultimate fulfilment comes from our relationship with God.
For God whose nature is love, created us to share in that love and to participate in his divine life through service to him and to one another in fraternal charity. But the rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to serve him as we find it difficult to actively participate in the mission of Christ.
This is because we have always failed to understand God’s ways of doing things. 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.
Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the Lord appointed seventy-two persons and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he was to visit. He said to them: ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!
Here, Jesus gave us the nature and requirements for carrying out his missionary mandate successfully. So, to continue this great mission, he invites his disciples and sends them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God.
Hence, we should offer to others what we have received from God, knowing that it has cost us nothing. We must live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, we are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from people, who, through their rebellious attitude, have refused to believe in God, even though He has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving us.
Thus, we heard Paul in our second reading today saying: the only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him to become a new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule. And prophet Isaiah in our first reading said: rejoice, Jerusalem, be glad for her, all you who love her! Rejoice, rejoice for her, all you who mourned her!
Dear friends, what is our attitude towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How has the Word of God shaped our lives? How are we contributing towards the missionary mandate of Christ? As disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward.
Therefore, we are called to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance. So, may we learn to respond to God’s call and serve in fraternal charity. Hence, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received.
LET US PRAY: Lord God, today you gave us the requirements and nature of our missionary mandate. Help us to effectively follow these requirements and so fulfil your plan for humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen. God bless you.
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