July 16, 2006
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Father Jason Clark, LC
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and
gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to
take nothing for the journey but a walking stick-- no food, no
sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a
house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does
not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust
off your feet in testimony against them." So they went off and
preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they
anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in you,
and I believe that I must follow your will in all that I do. I hope
in you, I place my hope in what you have planned for me today.
Teach me not to place my hope in created things, but only in your
will. Lord, I love you, and I desire to love your will with greater
fervor. Open my heart to respond to your will with generosity and
joy.
Petition: Lord, you sent the apostles to undertake
a great mission and you gave them a specific way to do so. Help me
to listen to your will so that I may carry it out with
fidelity.
1. Two By Two. Our Lord didnt send the apostles
out alone in their mission as isolated individuals, but in pairs.
Jesus wanted them to realize that alone they would not be strong
enough to fulfill his will. Alone they would be vulnerable to
attacks. Alone they might succumb to temptation and discouragement.
Jesus disciples were not alone as they labored to carry out their
mission, and neither are we. The mission we have of following Jesus
may be difficult at times. Jesus knows this and he places people in
our path to help and support us. We must realize that we need the
help of others and that others also need our help. We are not
alone!
2. Take Nothing. Jesus wanted his apostles to
realize that he is in charge of the mission. Jesus tells them to
leave at home what we would consider basic items necessary for any
trip. This was a radical lesson for the apostles, and for us. Jesus
doesnt want us to rely on our personal efforts, the advanced
technology of the day, or any other methods or elements that we can
invent for our security or success. He is the origin of any success
in our lives, and he alone gives true security. Jesus tells the
apostles to take nothing on their journey, except him.
3. They Went Off. The apostles then went to preach
repentance and cure the sick. They trusted in Jesus and in the
mission he had entrusted to them. As they began to work they saw
that their efforts were bearing fruit. The people they encountered
were responsive. They could see that they were changing lives. In
our own lives we dont often encounter receptive crowds open and
eager to hear about Christ and prepared to amend their lives and
start off on a new path. We often find hostility and opposition. In
either situation success or failure as we try to build Christs
Kingdom, we must trust in him and remember that we are called to be
faithful, not necessarily successful from a human standpoint.
Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, youve given me
a mission to spread your Gospel among my family members, friends
and coworkers -- everyone I encounter. Help me to be faithful to
this mission and to undertake it how you wish, not how it most
pleases me. Help me to remember that success in this mission is
demonstrated in the measure of my fidelity, not in outward
success.
Resolution: I will fulfill my prayer commitments
today with generosity and fidelity.