Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - Wednesday in the 25th Week 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.
The Gospel of Luke is really a two-volume work. The first volume is what we call "the Gospel of Luke," and the second is the "Acts of the Apostles." Volume One deals with Jesus life and ministry. Volume Two deals with what happens after Jesus' death and resurrection. Some scripture scholars believe that the "missionary spirit" of both volumes "bleeds" back and forth so that events in the second volume influence the way the first volume tells its story. In the case of today's gospel passage, the "sending forth" of the Twelve may reflect the post-resurrection - even post-Pentecost - spirit of things. However, any good story will require at times that we suspend our logical and analytic ways and enter into the story itself as participants. Thus, we the baptized find ourselves "summoned and sent forth." If we do this, then we must pay attention to Jesus' "commission" and consider how we are going to fulfill it!
We will find ourselves confronted with "demons" and "diseases" and the task of "proclaiming the Kingdom of God." We may need to shape our lifestyle so as to make this proclamation a visible reality to our listeners. We may have to accept rejection! If we think this was meant only for the "Twelve," we have to read on to the next chapter where Jesus sends "a further seventy-two!" Then we read on into Volume Two where the missionaries begin to multiply even more! We are connected with them in history and in the Holy Spirit! The "summons and the sending" occurred and continues to occur through our baptism! Are we going to simply sit on the sideline and make evangelization a spectator event? AMEN