Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 385
Lectionary: 385
Israel is a
luxuriant vine
whose fruit matches its growth.
The more abundant his fruit,
the more altars he built;
The more productive his land,
the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false,
now they pay for their guilt;
God shall break down their altars
and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say,
“We have no king”—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear,
like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,
the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.
Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”
“Sow for yourselves justice,
reap the fruit of piety;
break up for yourselves a new field,
for it is time to seek the LORD,
till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
whose fruit matches its growth.
The more abundant his fruit,
the more altars he built;
The more productive his land,
the more sacred pillars he set up.
Their heart is false,
now they pay for their guilt;
God shall break down their altars
and destroy their sacred pillars.
If they would say,
“We have no king”—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear,
like foam upon the waters.
The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,
the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars.
Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”
“Sow for yourselves justice,
reap the fruit of piety;
break up for yourselves a new field,
for it is time to seek the LORD,
till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (4b) Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel MT 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his
Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Meditation: Jesus gives his disciples authority to heal and
set free
Do you believe in the the life-changing power of the Gospel and
experience its transforming effect in your life? The core of the Gospel message
is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is very near!What is
the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who know God's love and
mercy, and who willingly obey and honor God as their Lord and King. In the
prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples (theLord's Prayer or Our
Father), he taught them to pray for God to reign in their daily lives and
in the world around them: May your kingdom come and your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
The power of the Gospel to heal and set free
When Jesus proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom he also demonstrated the power of the Gospel with supernatural signs and wonders. Jesus healed people who suffered physical, emotional, and mental illnesses. He freed people from spiritual bondage to sin and demonic powers. Jesus gave his disciples the same authority he had to heal and set people free from spiritual bondage.
When Jesus proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom he also demonstrated the power of the Gospel with supernatural signs and wonders. Jesus healed people who suffered physical, emotional, and mental illnesses. He freed people from spiritual bondage to sin and demonic powers. Jesus gave his disciples the same authority he had to heal and set people free from spiritual bondage.
The Gospel (which literally means "good news") which
Jesus proclaimed is just as relevant and real today, the kingdom of
heaven is at hand. If we believe in the Lord Jesus, the Word of God made
flesh, and in the power of the Gospel, we will know and experience the freedom,
joy, and power he gives us that enables us to live and witness as his
disciples. No one can buy heaven; but if we know the love and mercy of Jesus
Christ, then we already possess heaven in our hearts! Do you believe that Jesus
can change and transform your life and share with you the power and authority
of God's kingdom?
Jesus chose ordinary people to do extraordinary work
Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did - to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work - Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or privileged position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages.
Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did - to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work - Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or privileged position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages.
Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do
it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for
what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the
Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing or very little to
offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for
greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and through
you for his glory?
"Lord Jesus, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take
and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of
your name."
 Choosing an Apostle. |
|
July 9, 2014. Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary
Time
|
|
Matthew 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority
over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every
illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called
Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother
John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James,
the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who
betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do
not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom
of heaven is at hand.’”
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I bring myself into your presence knowing the zeal
of your heart for souls. The glory of your heavenly Father can shape my own
heart. I am confident that, just as the Twelve lit the flame of their love
for their mission from the furnace of your divine love, I can ignite all that
is lukewarm and tepid in my own soul today. I desire to fulfill more
perfectly the mission you have given me.
Petition: Lord, grant me the grace to be generous and trustful
concerning your plan for me.
1. Jesus Needs Apostles: A condition for the Kingdom to grow is
that it have protagonists. Christ refuses to be a one-man show. We honor and
bow before the divine choice expressed in Christ’s desire to let his victory
be realized through others, beginning with the Twelve. In the Twelve we find
the model of every call of Christ to build his Kingdom, to spread the faith
by word and deed. If there is no response to his call, there is no Kingdom.
Have I meditated on my call often? Do I see it linked to my family and to my
workplace? Have I responded to it?
2. The Calling: Many were on the mountain that day. Many were drawn to
him and longed to be close to him, but only 12 received the explicit call to
be Apostles. The sense of predilection is in every vocation and every mission
from God. What we are chosen for in life, no one else can fulfill it. We are
called by name, meaning that Christ knows us well when he calls, including
all our defects and weaknesses. He did not ask the Twelve for their preferences,
look at their SAT scores, or scrutinize their résumés. The choice of God,
revealed in prayer, is sovereign and omnipotent in action. The Twelve cannot
think there has been some mistake or some miscalculation. The voice of God,
who neither deceives nor can be deceived, is speaking.
3. A Free Response: Christ called freely, and in freedom the Twelve
responded. He did not bring down angels from heaven to overwhelm them to
cooperate, he merely prayed to the Father. As Lord of the harvest, he has
called each one of us. Our vocation as an apostle, is not a question of our
wanting to be one. It is not a question of our talents or compelling feelings
for this or that, but of our faith-driven awareness of God asking and our
responding. Why are we where we are now in our vocation in life? In our
particular marriage? In a particular lay movement? We can never know fully,
for only God knows the depths of his own wisdom. This is the first mystery of
the Kingdom that touches each one of us personally: God called, he willed it,
and we said “yes.” This is the only answer an apostle must seek. Anything
else slows down the mission and interrupts the dialogue of love and service
to the mission.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I want to affirm that all my
work today is going to be my response to your call to be your disciple and a
light to others in this world. I resolve never to doubt the special and
perfect nature of your plan for me. May my heart always be confident and
generous in responding to your voice.
Resolution: I will take the hardest part of my day and embrace it
with greater joy out of love for the one who has called me.
|
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9,
MATTHEW 10:1-7
(Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 105)
(Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "As you go, make this proclamation: `The kingdom of God is at hand'" (v 7).
READING: By his words and deeds, Jesus demonstrated that God's reign had arrived. Jesus did not choose to bring about the kingdom on his own. It took the co-operation of his followers to bring it to completion. Jesus chose twelve men to share his ministry and mission. The number twelve recalled the twelve founding tribes of Israel. These tribes had been scattered and dispersed all over the world. At the time of Jesus, only the tribe of Judah remained intact (Jesus was a descendant of Judah's tribe). Jesus' understanding of his mission was to draw the chosen people of Israel together again. But his ministry did not stop there. When Jesus was raised from the dead, he gave his followers the knowledge of the love of God, and then told them to go and proclaim the good news to all peoples (Mt 28:19). These apostles are mirrors of ourselves, flawed but graced human beings.
REFLECTING: In what ways have I announced the gospel today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to share the good news of your reign to all I meet.
Optional Memorial of
Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, and his companions, Chinese martyrs
Augustine Zhao Rong was a soldier. He escorted Blessed John Gabriel Dufresse to Beijing, China during his missionary work. Once baptized, he was sent to the seminary and then ordained a priest. Augustine worked in the Su-Tchuen province. He was arrested for his faith and work, and died in 1815 due to poor conditions in prison. Augustine was one of 120 Martyrs of China that were canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 on the Feast of St. Thèrése of Lisieux. The Pope said that "the Church wanted to recognize these martyrs as examples of courage … and thus to honor the noble Chinese people for their fidelity to the Catholic faith." These martyrs died between 1648 and 1930. Of the 120 Chinese martyrs, 87 were Chinese natives, and the remaining 33 were foreign missionaries who served in China.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Listening Is Intimate
Only sinners have the patience to listen to the stories Jesus
tells. The self-righteous hear them but don’t listen. Hearing happens when the
ears and the brain team up, but listening happens with the ears of the heart.
Seek always the face of the Lord
What a mixed bunch the disciples were—tax collectors, fishermen,
zealots and more.Jesus drew people from all walks of life, taught them and prepared them to live what he taught. Everyone had a part to play. He sent them first to their own people. Jesus was calling the people of Israel to renewal. Jesus’ message was no different to that of the prophets. Through Hosea, God reminded the Israelites what their path was meant to be—a luxuriant vine, sowing integrity, reaping kindness and worshipping God alone. Jesus sent the disciples to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven was close – be ready. We too are called not only to be ready, but to ensure that others are also.
July
9
St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
(17th-20th centuries)
St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
(17th-20th centuries)
Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s.
Depending on China's relations with the outside world, Christianity over the
centuries was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly.
The 120
martyrs in this group died between 1648 and 1930. Most of them (87) were born
in China and were children, parents, catechists or laborers, ranging from nine
years of age to 72. This group includes four Chinese diocesan priests.
The 33
foreign-born martyrs were mostly priests or women religious, especially from
the Order of Preachers, the Paris Foreign Mission Society, the Friars Minor, Jesuits,
Salesians and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Augustine
Zhao Rong was a Chinese solider who accompanied Bishop John Gabriel Taurin
Dufresse (Paris Foreign Mission Society) to his martyrdom in Beijing. Augustine
was baptized and not long after was ordained as a diocesan priest. He was
martyred in 1815.
Beatified
in groups at various times, these 120 martyrs were canonized in Rome on October
1, 2000.
Comment:
The People's Republic of China and the Roman Catholic Church each have well over a billion members, but there are over 12 million Catholics in China. The reasons for that are better explained by historical conflicts than by a wholesale rejection of the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Chinese-born martyrs honored by today's feast were regarded by their persecutors as dangerous because they were considered allies of enemy, Catholic countries. The martyrs born outside China often tried to distance themselves from European political struggles relating to China, but their persecutors saw them as Westerners and therefore, by definition, anti-Chinese.
The People's Republic of China and the Roman Catholic Church each have well over a billion members, but there are over 12 million Catholics in China. The reasons for that are better explained by historical conflicts than by a wholesale rejection of the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Chinese-born martyrs honored by today's feast were regarded by their persecutors as dangerous because they were considered allies of enemy, Catholic countries. The martyrs born outside China often tried to distance themselves from European political struggles relating to China, but their persecutors saw them as Westerners and therefore, by definition, anti-Chinese.
The Good News of
Jesus Christ is intended to benefit all peoples; today's martyrs knew that. May
21st-century Christians live in such a way that Chinese women and men will be
attracted to hear that Good News and embrace it.
Quote:
A year after these martyrs were canonized, Blessed John Paul II addressed a group of Chinese and Western scholars, gathered in Rome for a symposium honoring the 400th anniversary of the arrival in Beijing of Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit scholar and Chinese intellectual.
After noting the positive contributions that Christianity had made to China, especially in health care and education, Pope John Paul II continued: "History, however, reminds us of the unfortunate fact that the work of members of the church in China was not always without error, the bitter fruit of their personal limitations and of the limits of their action. Moreover, their action was often conditioned by difficult situations connected with complex historical events and conflicting political interests. Nor were theological disputes lacking, which caused bad feelings and created serious difficulties in preaching the Gospel….
"I feel deep sadness for these errors and limits of the past, and I regret that in many people these failings may have given the impression of a lack of respect and esteem for the Chinese people on the part of the Catholic Church, making them feel that the church was motivated by feelings of hostility toward China. For all of this I ask the forgiveness and understanding of those who may have felt hurt in some way by such actions on the part of Christians."
A year after these martyrs were canonized, Blessed John Paul II addressed a group of Chinese and Western scholars, gathered in Rome for a symposium honoring the 400th anniversary of the arrival in Beijing of Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit scholar and Chinese intellectual.
After noting the positive contributions that Christianity had made to China, especially in health care and education, Pope John Paul II continued: "History, however, reminds us of the unfortunate fact that the work of members of the church in China was not always without error, the bitter fruit of their personal limitations and of the limits of their action. Moreover, their action was often conditioned by difficult situations connected with complex historical events and conflicting political interests. Nor were theological disputes lacking, which caused bad feelings and created serious difficulties in preaching the Gospel….
"I feel deep sadness for these errors and limits of the past, and I regret that in many people these failings may have given the impression of a lack of respect and esteem for the Chinese people on the part of the Catholic Church, making them feel that the church was motivated by feelings of hostility toward China. For all of this I ask the forgiveness and understanding of those who may have felt hurt in some way by such actions on the part of Christians."
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 10,1-7
Lectio:
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
through the obedience of Jesus,
your servant and your Son,
you raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
through the obedience of Jesus,
your servant and your Son,
you raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 10,1-7
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease
and all kinds of illness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who was also his betrayer.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: 'Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who was also his betrayer.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: 'Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.
3) Reflection
• The second great Discourse: The Discourse of the Mission
begins in charter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew organizes his
Gospel as a new edition of the Law of God or like a new “Pentateuch” with its
five books. For this reason his Gospel presents five great discourses or
teachings of Jesus followed by a narrative part, in which he describes the way
in which Jesus puts into practice what he had taught in the discourses.
The following is the outline:
Introduction: the birth and preparation of the Messiah (Mt 1 to 4)
a) Sermon on the Mountain: the entrance door into the Kingdom (Mt 5 to 7)
Narrative Mt 8 and 9
b) Discourse of the Mission: how to announce and diffuse the Kingdom (Mt 10)
Narrative Mt 11 and 12
c) Discourse of the Parables: The mystery of the Kingdom present in life (Mt 13)
Narrative Mt 14 to 17
d) Discourse of the Community: the new way of living together in the Kingdom (Mt 18)
Narrative 19 to 23
e) Discourse of the future coming of the Kingdom: the utopia which sustains hope (Mt 24 and 25)
Conclusion: Passion, death and Resurrection (Mt 26 to 28)
• Today’s Gospel presents to us the beginning of the Discourse of the Mission, in which the accent is placed on three aspects: (a) the call of the disciples (Mt 10, 1); (b) the list of the names of the twelve Apostles who will be the recipients of the Discourse on the Mission (Mt 10, 2-4); (c) the sending out of the twelve (Mt 10, 5-7).
• Matthew 10, 1: The call of the twelve disciples. Matthew had already spoken about the call of the disciples (Mt 4, 18-22; 9, 9). Here, at the beginning of the Discourse of the Mission, he presents a summary: “He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and all kinds of illness”. The task or the mission of the disciple is to follow Jesus, the Master, forming community with him and carrying out the same mission of Jesus: to drive out the unclean spirits, to cure all sorts of diseases and all orts of illness. In Mark’s Gospel they receive the same two-fold mission, formulated with other words: Jesus constituted the group of Twelve, to remain with him and to send them out to preach and cast out devils” (Mc 3, 14-15). 1) To be with him, that is to form a community, in which Jesus is the center. 2)To preach and to be able to cast out the devils, that is, to announce the Good News and to conquer the force of evil which destroys the life of the people and alienates persons. Luke says that Jesus prayed the whole night, and the following day he called the disciples. He prayed to God so as to know whom to choose (Lk 6, 12-13).
• Matthew 10, 2-4: The list of the names of the Twelve Apostles. A good number of these names come from the Old Testament. For example, Simon is the name of one of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob (Gn 29, 33). James is the same as Giacomo (Gn 25, 26). Judas is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Matthew also had the name of Levi (Mk 2, 14), who was the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Of the Twelve Apostles seven have a name which comes from the time of the Patriarchs. Two are called Simon; two are called James; two are called Judas, one Levi! Only one has a Greek name: Philip. This reveals the desire of people to start again the history from the beginning! Perhaps it is good to think in the names which are given today to the children when they are born. Because each one of us is called by God by his/her name.
• Matthew 10, 5-7: The sending out or the mission of the twelve apostles toward the lost sheep of Israel. After having given the list of the names of the twelve, Jesus sends them out with the following recommendation: “Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town, go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand”. In this one phrase there is a three-fold insistence in showing that the preference of the mission is for the House of Israel: (1) Do not go among the gentiles, (2) do not enter into the towns of the Samaritans, (3) rather go to the lost sheep of Israel. Here appears a response to the doubt of the first Christians concerning opening up to pagans. Paul, who strongly affirmed the openness to the gentiles, agrees in saying that the Good News of Jesus should first be announced to the Jews and, then to the gentiles (Rm 9, 1 a 11, 36; cf. At 1, 8; 11, 3; 13, 46; 15,1. 5.23-29). But then, in the same Gospel of Matthew, in the conversation of Jesus with the Canaanite woman, the openness to the gentiles will take place (Mt 15, 21-29).
• The sending out of the Apostles toward all peoples. After the Resurrection of Jesus, there are several episodes on the sending out of the Apostles not only toward the Jews, but toward all peoples. In Matthew: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe everything which I have commanded. And I will be with you until the end of time” (Mt 28, 19-20). In Mark: “Go to the entire world, proclaim the Good News to all creatures. Those who will believe and will be baptized will be saved; those who will not believe will be condemned” (Mk 15-16). In Luke: "So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this (Lk 24, 46-48; Ac 1, 8) John summarizes all in one phrase: “As the Father has sent me, so I also send you!” (Jn 20, 21).
Introduction: the birth and preparation of the Messiah (Mt 1 to 4)
a) Sermon on the Mountain: the entrance door into the Kingdom (Mt 5 to 7)
Narrative Mt 8 and 9
b) Discourse of the Mission: how to announce and diffuse the Kingdom (Mt 10)
Narrative Mt 11 and 12
c) Discourse of the Parables: The mystery of the Kingdom present in life (Mt 13)
Narrative Mt 14 to 17
d) Discourse of the Community: the new way of living together in the Kingdom (Mt 18)
Narrative 19 to 23
e) Discourse of the future coming of the Kingdom: the utopia which sustains hope (Mt 24 and 25)
Conclusion: Passion, death and Resurrection (Mt 26 to 28)
• Today’s Gospel presents to us the beginning of the Discourse of the Mission, in which the accent is placed on three aspects: (a) the call of the disciples (Mt 10, 1); (b) the list of the names of the twelve Apostles who will be the recipients of the Discourse on the Mission (Mt 10, 2-4); (c) the sending out of the twelve (Mt 10, 5-7).
• Matthew 10, 1: The call of the twelve disciples. Matthew had already spoken about the call of the disciples (Mt 4, 18-22; 9, 9). Here, at the beginning of the Discourse of the Mission, he presents a summary: “He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and all kinds of illness”. The task or the mission of the disciple is to follow Jesus, the Master, forming community with him and carrying out the same mission of Jesus: to drive out the unclean spirits, to cure all sorts of diseases and all orts of illness. In Mark’s Gospel they receive the same two-fold mission, formulated with other words: Jesus constituted the group of Twelve, to remain with him and to send them out to preach and cast out devils” (Mc 3, 14-15). 1) To be with him, that is to form a community, in which Jesus is the center. 2)To preach and to be able to cast out the devils, that is, to announce the Good News and to conquer the force of evil which destroys the life of the people and alienates persons. Luke says that Jesus prayed the whole night, and the following day he called the disciples. He prayed to God so as to know whom to choose (Lk 6, 12-13).
• Matthew 10, 2-4: The list of the names of the Twelve Apostles. A good number of these names come from the Old Testament. For example, Simon is the name of one of the sons of the Patriarch Jacob (Gn 29, 33). James is the same as Giacomo (Gn 25, 26). Judas is the name of the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Matthew also had the name of Levi (Mk 2, 14), who was the other son of Jacob (Gn 35, 23). Of the Twelve Apostles seven have a name which comes from the time of the Patriarchs. Two are called Simon; two are called James; two are called Judas, one Levi! Only one has a Greek name: Philip. This reveals the desire of people to start again the history from the beginning! Perhaps it is good to think in the names which are given today to the children when they are born. Because each one of us is called by God by his/her name.
• Matthew 10, 5-7: The sending out or the mission of the twelve apostles toward the lost sheep of Israel. After having given the list of the names of the twelve, Jesus sends them out with the following recommendation: “Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town, go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand”. In this one phrase there is a three-fold insistence in showing that the preference of the mission is for the House of Israel: (1) Do not go among the gentiles, (2) do not enter into the towns of the Samaritans, (3) rather go to the lost sheep of Israel. Here appears a response to the doubt of the first Christians concerning opening up to pagans. Paul, who strongly affirmed the openness to the gentiles, agrees in saying that the Good News of Jesus should first be announced to the Jews and, then to the gentiles (Rm 9, 1 a 11, 36; cf. At 1, 8; 11, 3; 13, 46; 15,1. 5.23-29). But then, in the same Gospel of Matthew, in the conversation of Jesus with the Canaanite woman, the openness to the gentiles will take place (Mt 15, 21-29).
• The sending out of the Apostles toward all peoples. After the Resurrection of Jesus, there are several episodes on the sending out of the Apostles not only toward the Jews, but toward all peoples. In Matthew: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe everything which I have commanded. And I will be with you until the end of time” (Mt 28, 19-20). In Mark: “Go to the entire world, proclaim the Good News to all creatures. Those who will believe and will be baptized will be saved; those who will not believe will be condemned” (Mk 15-16). In Luke: "So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this (Lk 24, 46-48; Ac 1, 8) John summarizes all in one phrase: “As the Father has sent me, so I also send you!” (Jn 20, 21).
4) Personal questions
• Have you ever thought sometime about the meaning of your name?
Have you asked your parents why they gave you the name that you have? Do you
like your name?
• Jesus calls the disciples. His call has a two-fold purpose: to form a community and to go on mission. How do I live in my life this two-fold purpose?
• Jesus calls the disciples. His call has a two-fold purpose: to form a community and to go on mission. How do I live in my life this two-fold purpose?
5) Concluding Prayer
Seek Yahweh and his strength,
tirelessly seek his presence!
Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders,
the judgements he has spoken. (Ps 105,4-5)
tirelessly seek his presence!
Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders,
the judgements he has spoken. (Ps 105,4-5)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét