15th Sunday of the Year (B)

First reading: Amos 7:12-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85
Second reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel reading: Mark 6:7-13

"Take nothing on the journey but a walking stick."

The gospel for July 12, the 15th Sunday of the Year, is a
continuation from the sixth chapter of the gospel of Mark. Last
Sunday, we learned of Jesus being rejected by His own countrymen,
when He began to teach in the synagogue. This Sunday, we will see
how Jesus summons His Twelve apostles, and gives them authority
over unclean spirits. He also gave instructions as regards what
they are to bring and do in this mission. In short, He told the
Twelve that they are to travel light and to leave in peace in case
the house they visited did not receive them or listen to what they
say. In this mission which Jesus authorized the Twelve, the
apostles were able to expel demons, anoint the sick, and work many
cures.

This gospel passage describes for us how the Christian mission,
at its very root and source, is to be conducted: traveling light,
depending on the people's hospitality, and working to build God's
kingdom through preaching the Good News and healing people from
the evil of sin and sickness. This is why many Catholic persons
who enter a religious life for the missions, do not have much
possessions, and are formed to trust in Divine Providence as they
go where the Gospel has not yet been sown: like in many places in
Asia and in Africa. What they bring to these people who still do
not know Christ, is the power of the Holy Spirit to transform
individuals and families to the likeness of Christ through both
Word and Sacrament.

For us living in a very urbanized and corporate set-up, what does
this mean for us? One basic attitude we can see and learn from
what Jesus instructed His apostles to do, is to "let go, and let
God" work His mission through His instruments. Many of us are
accustomed to seek control of our lives, our families, our jobs,
our businesses, and our possessions. It is also good to have some
moderate control over these things because this leads to order,
organization, and efficient use of resources. However, this
Sunday's gospel teaches us a lesson: that we are to be indifferent
to all these things when it involves going beyond ourselves. When
it comes to bringing the Good News outside the comfort zones of
our home, family and loved ones, we are called to trust more in
God, place all our confidence in Him, and let His Holy Spirit work
well through us. This we can do through the parochial system we
belong to - where families are called to evangelize one another,
to learn Christ from each other, and to support one another in
fulfilling God's will together through the Eucharistic vision of
the parish. Some families may not want to accept what we bring
them in our parish mission, but Jesus teaches us to leave them
in peace - "to shake the dust from our feet" - and to continue
on in finding other families who are willing to follow the
vision of our parish and diocese.