Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 - Twenty-fifth Wednesday in Ordinary Time
[Ezra 9:5-9 and Luke 9:1-6]Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
In professional and ministerial formation, there comes a particular "gulp" moment when those who have been "formed" are handed their diplomas and "sent" out to do that for which they have been trained. In the audience are the "formators" (professors, mentors, parents, etc.) and the "veterans" who may be remembering what it was like to take that diploma and report for duty. The biggest "Gulp!" may be the one from those who are sent, however. "This is IT! I have to go and do all those things I've been wanting to do! Oops! Where do I start?" Anyone with an ounce of self-honesty knows that this powerful moment will be followed by those halting and mistake-prone first steps in professional life. The expectations are high from everyone. It is a time of high idealism which in time is tempered by experience and wisdom. After "forming" his disciples with the teaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus gives them "power and authority" and "sends" them to proclaim that Kingdom themselves! We know that they will return very excited about what they were able to accomplish. We also know that some places wanted nothing to do with them. We know, too, that the disciples occasionally had the wrong attitude, such as "raining down fire" on a village that would not receive them. This is a lesson the Church has had to learn more than once. A "believe it or else" attitude is not likely to bring very many people to understand the Kingdom of God. Neither will an attitude that says this truth is just another to add to whatever you want to believe. The disciples had to speak with "authority" and confidence of the Kingdom. The power to heal is a sure sign of that Kingdom, but they had to remember (as I and any other minister must remember) that it is God's authority and not their own that accomplishes any good in their ministry. The sad thing is that so many would-be disciples simply accept the teaching and never do anything about it. It's as if one accepted the diploma, threw it on the table and then sat down in front of a TV for the rest of his or her life! By virtue of our baptism, we have been empowered as disciples! It's time to say, "Gulp!" and get on with the work of the Kingdom of God. AMEN