Readings: Prov. 30:5-9, Ps.119, Luke 9:1-6
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
“TAKE NOTING FOR THE JOURNEY” UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF OUR MISSION
With the hostility, persecution and the influential power of things in this passing world, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of a hostile environment. So, if we are willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations to the mission of Christ, we need to make a radical decision about our discipleship in a personal and radical way.
This is what Jesus is teaching his disciples in our Gospel passage today, when he called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you takes a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.’
Here, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions, but he wants to expose the sacrificial nature of our mission. Hence, Jesus demands a total commitment towards the journey of discipleship once begun or not beginning it at all.
Because, following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that we have. For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possessions, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to Jesus over all other competing loyalties in our lives, including family, self-interest, and possessions.
Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully carry out the mission of Christ entrusted to us. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of the mission of Christ? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us back from making this radical decision today?
It is time for us to let them go in order to focus more on the mission Christ has entrusted to us. Therefore, let us learn to follow the examples of all the other great disciples who had given their time, energy, and even lives for the salvation of many souls. Just like St. Pio Pietrelcina whose memorial we celebrate today.
He was born in the small village of Pietrelcina in southern Italy, and joined the Capuchin friars at the age of 16. He became a priest seven years later, and spent fifty years at the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he was very much sought after as a spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor. Many miracles were popularly ascribed to him during his lifetime
LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, today we are called to a sacrificial journey of Christ's mission. Because our excessive desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world has weakened our hearts towards our mission, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.
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