DO NOT FORGET
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 6: 7-13
Jesus gathers in order to scatter. He welcomes so that He may send. He chooses so that He may let go.
Jesus is not a matinee idol; He is a Master who gathers, forms and sends disciples on a mission. He is not an employer; He is a leader of a crusade for the Kingdom of God. He is not a dictator; He is the Lord who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life for the ransom of many.
Thus, we are not meant to be His fans; we are His disciples. We are not His employees; we are His team. We are not His slaves; we are His servants according to His own example of service.
The purpose of our coming is in our going. Jesus calls us so that He may send us forth. Between the calling and the sending, something happens, many a time in the silence of our staying with Him but sometimes in the sound of His voice. Jesus forms us. But we can only be formed according to His purpose if we stay with Him. Do we persevere? Are we present to Him? Do we stay?
While He forms us as individuals, Jesus forms us within a particular community: a religious congregation, a diocese, a seminary, a prayer group, a covenanted fellowship, a parish, a family. Jesus sends us to communities, but from communities we also go forth. Should we not be a team for Him? Can we work together for Him? Are we a family?
Freely He chooses, freely we join Him. In choosing us, Jesus was not coerced by anyone or anything. In joining Him, we are not pushed against our will. Both Jesus and us are free. No one is forced. When forced, we work for any reason except love. When free, love is not seen as work. When forced, the task is seen as enslaving. When free, it becomes service. Are we free? Do we free? Where is our freedom coming from?
We are not meant to save the world. Jesus already accomplished that. We are sharers of His mission. In us, Jesus brings into fruition the salvation He once and for all achieved on the cross. Through us, Jesus brings to the fore the effects of the same mission in all of creation.
The Eucharist reminds us of these truths each day. It gathers us, it sends us forth and it liberates us. We do not forget. Or do we?
Mark 6: 7-13
Jesus gathers in order to scatter. He welcomes so that He may send. He chooses so that He may let go.
Jesus is not a matinee idol; He is a Master who gathers, forms and sends disciples on a mission. He is not an employer; He is a leader of a crusade for the Kingdom of God. He is not a dictator; He is the Lord who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life for the ransom of many.
Thus, we are not meant to be His fans; we are His disciples. We are not His employees; we are His team. We are not His slaves; we are His servants according to His own example of service.
The purpose of our coming is in our going. Jesus calls us so that He may send us forth. Between the calling and the sending, something happens, many a time in the silence of our staying with Him but sometimes in the sound of His voice. Jesus forms us. But we can only be formed according to His purpose if we stay with Him. Do we persevere? Are we present to Him? Do we stay?
While He forms us as individuals, Jesus forms us within a particular community: a religious congregation, a diocese, a seminary, a prayer group, a covenanted fellowship, a parish, a family. Jesus sends us to communities, but from communities we also go forth. Should we not be a team for Him? Can we work together for Him? Are we a family?
Freely He chooses, freely we join Him. In choosing us, Jesus was not coerced by anyone or anything. In joining Him, we are not pushed against our will. Both Jesus and us are free. No one is forced. When forced, we work for any reason except love. When free, love is not seen as work. When forced, the task is seen as enslaving. When free, it becomes service. Are we free? Do we free? Where is our freedom coming from?
We are not meant to save the world. Jesus already accomplished that. We are sharers of His mission. In us, Jesus brings into fruition the salvation He once and for all achieved on the cross. Through us, Jesus brings to the fore the effects of the same mission in all of creation.
The Eucharist reminds us of these truths each day. It gathers us, it sends us forth and it liberates us. We do not forget. Or do we?
posted by Fr. Bobby @ 3:00 PM
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