Sunday, 14 July 2024. Readings: Amos 7:12-15, Ps. 85:9-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:7-13
“He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey.” (Mark 6:7-8)
The greatest scandal of the Christian Faith is the apparent contradiction between the simple clarity of the Gospel and the complicated lives of those who profess the Christian Faith. No wonder Mahatma Gandhi is often quoted as saying: “I love your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Jesus called out the twelve to instruct them on the mission. He sent them out two by two (to indicate the importance of collaboration) and told them to take nothing for the journey (to indicate the importance of detachment). Today, we will examine our conscience.
1. Why is it so difficult for ministers to work together?
In Antioch, where people were for the first time addressed as Christians, we were told that “the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul.” (Acts 4:32). Can we say this about the body of Christ today? Are we still Christians? This lack of collaboration plays out in today’s first reading. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, is at loggerheads with Amos, the prophet.
The priest tells the prophet, “Go, flee away from here, go to Judah, earn your bread there (as if prophesying is all about earning bread), leave this town for me, for this is the King’s sanctuary.” Do you notice the politics involved in this quarrel between Fr. Amaziah and Prophet Amos? Can we say something different about the Christian body today?
2. How detached are we today?
Jesus said: “Take nothing except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money, wear sandals, don’t put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:8-9). From his experience during his temptations, Jesus knew very well that the material riches of this world would remain an ever-present temptation to deviate from the goal of ministry. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
In today’s second reading, St. Paul clearly describes what should constitute true riches and blessings in the mind of anyone who calls himself a child of God. These are holiness, blamelessness, redemption, the forgiveness of sin, unity with God, knowledge of the Gospel of salvation, and the seal of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul did not mention stacks of money, exotic means of transportation, or properties.
St. John adds: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17).
3. No Detachment; No Collaboration
In truth, the lust for material possessions (worldly riches) is the major reason ministers cannot collaborate. There is mutual suspicion among ministers, and fights often break out occasionally because each has a moneybag, too many sandals, and too many tunics. If we were to seek God’s Kingdom first rather than earthly gains, we would all speak with one voice and recover our true Christian identity like the early Christians. Why are churches breaking apart today? Why is every minister determined to set up their Church?
If detached, we would focus more on building faith, justice, and morality than on building personal mansions and investments. We could speak the truth and call people to repentance like these twelve apostles did rather than serve the sugar-coated Gospel of prosperity. If we are detached, we can be better positioned to cast out the demons troubling our society, such as the demons of corruption, injustice, immorality, falsehood, tribalism, etc.
4. No Detachment, No True Evangelization
While sending out the twelve, Jesus said: “If any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away, shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.” Jesus knows that not everyone has the stomach for truth. As such, no one should be forced to receive or believe the Good News.
Addressing the Jews on a certain occasion, Jesus said, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name bear witness to me, but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. (John 10:25-28).
Whether we like it or not, some people are not interested in the Gospel or in following Christ. The problem today is that instead of focusing on salvation, we are trying to bend the Gospel to fill up the seats in our churches. Instead of insisting on Marriage as the union between a man and woman as Jesus Christ defined it (cf. Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7), we are talking about blessing gay unions. Like the king who told his servants to bring in as many people as possible to fill the banquet hall (since those invited did not come), we have watered down the Gospel to prioritize entertainment over truth. (cf. Luke 14:15-24 and Matthew 22:1-14).
However, unlike the king who threw out a poorly dressed man, we allow people to dress how they like to Church. We even go to the extent of making our ushers and choristers wear sexually provocative attires to attract members to the Church. Nowadays, you cannot tell the difference between a person returning from the Church or a nightclub. It shouldn’t surprise you that despite the proliferation of churches in our society today, immorality, corruption and other evil vices are rising.
5. What Is The Way Forward?
- Repentance. As ministers of God, we must preach with the examples of our lives. Until we cease to be beneficiaries of corruption like Amaziah, the priest, we cannot speak truth to power. Until we practice the detachment Jesus recommends, no one will take our sermons or communiques seriously. As St. Paul says in today’s second reading, we have been called “to be holy and spotless”, not necessarily to make it big in life. Let us repent from worshipping money, whether as ministers or laity. Let us return to practising the Gospel values and apply poverty of spirit.
- See every Christian as your family. Celebrate your culture, considering that no culture is superior to another. By baptism, we have been reborn into a new family. St. Paul would say: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek nor slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28).
- Kill your pride before it kills you. No man is an island. You cannot do it alone. Regardless of your gifts and talents, remember that you are only an instrument in God’s hands. Even Jesus Christ did not do it alone. He needed Mary to carry him in the womb for nine months, Joseph to be his Father, John the Baptist to announce Him and so on. Jesus worked with twelve apostles. Just as we need each other, we also need God’s help. Hence, today’s Psalm prays: “Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.”
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, impart the spirit of collaboration and teach us to trust you rather than earthly riches. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Amos 7:12-15, Ps. 85:9-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:7-13).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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