20190707
COLLABORATIVE
MISSION OF RESTORATION
07 JULY, 2019,
Sunday, 14th Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour:
Green.
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First reading
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Isaiah 66:10-14 ©
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Towards Jerusalem I send flowing peace,
like a river
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Rejoice, Jerusalem,
be glad for her, all you who love her!
Rejoice, rejoice for her,
all you who mourned her!
That you may be suckled, filled,
from her consoling breast,
that you may savour with delight
her glorious breasts.
For thus says the Lord:
Now towards her I send flowing
peace, like a river,
and like a stream in spate
the glory of the nations.
At her breast will her nurslings be
carried
and fondled in her lap.
Like a son comforted by his mother
will I comfort you.
And by Jerusalem you will be comforted.
At the sight your heart will rejoice,
and your bones flourish like the grass.
To his servants the Lord will reveal his
hand.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 65(66):1-7,16,20 ©
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Cry out with joy to God,
all the earth.
Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his
name.
O render him glorious praise.
Say to God: ‘How tremendous
your deeds!
Cry out with joy to God,
all the earth.
‘Before you all the earth shall bow;
shall sing to you, sing to
your name!’
Come and see the works of God,
tremendous his deeds among
men.
Cry out with joy to God,
all the earth.
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the river
dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him;
he rules for ever by his
might.
Cry out with joy to God,
all the earth.
Come and hear, all who fear God.
I will tell what he did for my
soul:
Blessed be God who did not reject my
prayer
nor withhold his love from me.
Cry out with joy to God,
all the earth.
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Second reading
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Galatians 6:14-18 ©
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The marks on my body are those of Jesus
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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 an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all
who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.
I
want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of
Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers.
Amen.
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Gospel Acclamation
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Jn15:15
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Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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Col3:15,16
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Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ reign in your
hearts;
let the message of Christ find a home with
you.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 10:1-12,17-20 ©
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Your peace will rest on that man
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The Lord appointed seventy-two others and
sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself
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!” And if a man
of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come
back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to
offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.
‘Whenever
you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you.
Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to
you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out
into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings
to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is
very near.” I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with
that town.’
The
seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to
us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like
lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents
and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you.
Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your
names are written in heaven.’
COLLABORATIVE
MISSION OF RESTORATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Isa 66:10-14; Ps 66:1-7, 16, 20; Gal 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12.17-20
Jesus 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.” Indeed, there are so many in the
world who are harassed by the challenges of life. Many are wounded
because of betrayal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. There are
those who are worried about their deteriorating health, financial situation,
their children’s studies, the security of their jobs, etc. Then there are
many who are confused about their sexual identity, personal relationships,
purpose and meaning in life. Most of all, many are under the bondage of
evil, sin and all forms of addiction to drugs, gambling, sex and pornography.
Indeed, the mission of
the Church is not so much to proselytize, to make converts but to prepare the
hearts of people to receive the Lord.
Baptism is the consequence of believing in the gospel and in Jesus as the One
who restores us to wholeness. Christianity is not an ideology but a
concrete application of God’s love and mercy to people. Indeed, the 72
disciples were sent ahead “to all the towns and places he himself was to
visit.” They were to prepare the people for His coming so that when He
came, the people would be ready to receive His message and His
love. This is what our work as the disciples of Jesus is all
about. Our task is to prepare the hearts of our people and their minds to
receive the Good News and most of all, to receive our Lord in person. How can
this be done?
Firstly, the
proclamation of the Kingdom of God entails the restoration of peace and hope to
all. This was what the
prophet Isaiah said to the people in exile. God would restore Jerusalem
once again. The people would be renewed in His life and in His
love. “Now towards her I send flowing peace, like a river, and like a
stream in spate the glory of the nations. Like a son comforted by his
mother will I comfort you. And by Jerusalem you will be comforted.” Jesus
also told His disciples, “Whatever house you go into, let your first words be,
‘Peace to this house!’ And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go
and rest on him.” This peace comes when they are reconciled with God,
themselves and their fellowmen.
Secondly, the
proclamation of the Kingdom is directed towards the restoration of our dignity
as God’s children.
St Paul also wrote, “It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what
matters is for him to become an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all
who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.” So the kingdom
message is directed at humanity so that they can live a new life, in love and
peace and be freed from all fears, bondages and evil. The gospel seeks to
give true freedom to every person not the slavery of the world.
Hence, St Paul said, “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. I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are
those of Jesus.”
Thirdly, proclamation
entails restoring wholeness to God’s people. “Cure those in it who are sick, and say, ‘The
kingdom of God is very near to you.'” Healing of those who are
emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and not just physically sick is part
of the restoration of the human person to his or her dignity. The gospel
is meant to set people free to love God and to love others. Sickness in
many instances is due to our sinful way of life, because of anger, attachment,
irresponsible living, greed, gluttony, laziness, ill-discipline and
ambition. At times, it is due to our weak constitution which makes us
fall sick and that can lead us to depression and despair, and then cause us to
lose faith in God. In experiencing the love of our fellowmen, their care
and their understanding, we experience God’s healing love; and by encountering
God’s healing love through the sacrament of reconciliation, the sacrament of
the sick and through the Eucharist, we too are liberated from our pain and
despair.
In this way, people will
know that our God is the mighty Lord and the living God who continues to be
present in our lives. “At
the sight your heart will rejoice, and your bones flourish like the grass. To
his servants the Lord will reveal his hand.” This is what the psalmist
says. “Cry out with joy to God all the earth, O sing to the glory of his
name. Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds! ‘Before you all the earth shall
bow; shall sing to you, sing to your name!’ Come and see the works of
God, tremendous his deeds among men.”
How can we reveal the
power of God’s healing love to those who are seeking Him? Precisely, we
cannot do it on our own strength. Jesus told the disciples, “Start off now, but
remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no
haversack, no sandals.” We need to depend on the Lord to do His work in
and through us. We are merely instruments of His love and peace. By
not carrying anything, the Lord is inviting us to rely solely on His grace and
the power of His love. In this way, no one can ever claim credit for the
work of healing or transformation in the lives of those whom we touch.
Otherwise, some of us become smug and think the credit goes to us even though
we might pay lip service that it is the work of God. In our helplessness
and inadequacy, counting on the power of the Lord and His assistance will allow
God to shine through in our human limitations. (cf 2 Cor 4:7-10)
Secondly, it entails
that we work together not just with the Lord but with each other. It is significant that Jesus “appointed
seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs.” They were
appointed in pairs because Jesus knew that the mission ahead of them would be
challenging and daunting. When we seek to proclaim the Good News on our
own, we will succumb to the attacks of our enemies, and the frustrations of
reaching out to those who are closed to the gospel. Jesus forewarned them
that this would happen. “But whenever you enter a town and they do not
make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, ‘We wipe off the very dust
of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of
this: the kingdom of God is very near.’ I tell you, on that day it will not go
as hard with Sodom as with that town.'” Instead of feeling angry and
disheartened, they should encourage each other, surrendering them to the Lord
to give them the grace to respond when the time is opportune. We do not
take things into our own hands nor do we allow rejection and failure to deter
us from continuing to proclaim the Good News.
Thirdly, we need to put
those whom we serve before ourselves. Christian service must be freed of
self-interest. We
must be transformed in Christ, die with Him and rise with Him. This is
what St Paul wrote, “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. I
want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of
Jesus.” We cannot serve the Lord and His people so long as we have vested
interests. This was why the Lord told the disciples not to be choosy over
which house they would lodge in. “Stay in the same house, taking what
food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not
move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you
welcome, eat what is set before you.” They should be contented with what
is given, namely food and lodging. The focus should not be on
remuneration but on changing and healing lives. (cf 2 Cor 4:10f)
Finally, the reward of
being His messengers of the Good News is our own personal transformation. Indeed, when we seek the good of others,
we receive the blessings twofold. This is what the Lord reminded the
disciples. The joy of spreading the Good News goes beyond seeing that we
make a difference in the lives of others but that we are enriched in our faith;
grow in grace and generosity on our part. Hence, when “The seventy-two
came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘even the devils submit to us when we use
your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the
whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice
that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in
heaven.'”
So let us not delay any
longer. The mission is urgent as
the Lord said, “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.” We must
not postpone our duty to proclaim the Good News wherever we are in whichever
place we are in. Wherever we go, let us give hope, let us be peacemakers
and reconcilers, let us be encouragers, enlighten people in truth and
love. In this way, they will come to know that God is love in Jesus
through us.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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