What does it mean to be sent forth?
In Sunday’s first reading, the prophet Amos – a simple shepherd and a dresser of sycamores – is sent forth as a foreigner to preach
God’s message regarding the coming demise of the northern kingdom. Naturally, no one wants to listen. But Amos understands that he has been called
by God, who said, Go, prophesy to my
people Israel; Amos is thus following through on a compulsion of God from
within and will hold fast to his message.
Like the author of Psalm 85, Amos must trust in God, trust in the
relationship God offers him, trust in the love of God itself as his motor and
motivation.
Jesus likewise sends his disciples forth in Mark’s Gospel, giving
them very specific instructions on how to reach others with his message, and
how to be sure they themselves don’t lose sight of the fact that the message
holds for them, as well. Like Amos, the
disciples are simple, working class men, not professional preachers; they take nothing for the journey but a walking
stick. But they know and trust – as
should we – that redemption is at work in them; they simply need to see God’s
grace at work and proclaim it. Because,
as Paul reminds the Ephesians, God destined
all for redemption; our role is to
respond positively to what God is doing in us, in effect, to say yes… and then
to tell the world. We exist for the praise of his glory!
We might not all have degrees in Scripture, but if we have
faith, if we believe that redemption is at work in us, we too have the capacity
to proclaim the Good News, and that capacity will grow each and every time we
act on it. Redemption is not a one-time thing; it is always at work in us,
always ongoing. Our proclamation of the
Good News is meant to show others that redemption is at work in them as well. Ite, missa est: we are sent, thanks be to God, at the end of
Mass, to do just that.
This post is based on Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
Image source: Wordle
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