Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 4th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 12:24-13:5a and John 12:44-50]"Set apart for me Barnabus and Saul for the word to which I have called them." Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia.... [Acts] Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. [John]
When I was a pastor in San Antonio, the parish council wanted to see if we could get a better idea of how many Catholics were living in the neighborhoods of the parish because we were sure there were more than were registered. So we trained some volunteers from the congregation and "sent" them two by two one fine day after a nice "commissioning" ceremony. They came back with some interesting stories - some nice, some not so nice. But all of them said, "We don't ever want to do this again!" As a pastor, I found that discouraging, but all too common. We Catholics don't feel "sent" by the Holy Spirit (or anyone else)!
The very word "apostle" comes from a Greek word meaning "one who is sent." Today's scripture speaks of Jesus being "sent" by his Father, and of Barnabus and Saul (Paul) being "sent" by the Holy Spirit through the prophets and teachers at Antioch! In his post-resurrection appearance to the apostles, Jesus tells them: "As the Father sent me, so I sent you!" [John 20:21]
The recent effort by the universal church called the "New Evangelization" is meant to rekindle that sense of being "sent" to proclaim the Good News. It's not meant just for the officially "ordained" folks such as priests and deacons! Our baptism is our commissioning ceremony! The "priesthood of the baptized" makes preachers of us all! The Holy Spirit will do its part if only we give it a chance! AMEN