RBWords

     This is a big moment.  Jesus shares his authority over unclean spirits and his power to heal with the Twelve apostles!  He sends them out two by two with instructions on how they are to behave.  They are only to wear simple clothing and carry a walking stick and be dependent on the people they preach to!  When I read this I am reminded of St. Dominic sending out the first friars of our Order of Preachers.  They were expected to beg for their support!  When I pack for a preaching trip, it is not without a twinge of guilt that I am not able to match the description in this passage!  But I do experience the power to heal at parish missions when I administer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.  It's nothing spectacular - just the experience of the faith of the people who come forward for that sacrament.  As for unclean spirits, I can only report what people tell me about the way my mission preaching has helped them deal with a persistent problem that seemed unsolvable.

    All of this is not just because I am an ordained priest.  I exercise a certain power by virtue of ordination, but that power is shared to some degree by all baptized Christians.  We do not have to be in a pulpit or be a Dominican friar to share the Word of Life.  We do not have to be ordained to bring a healing presence of faith, hope and love to those whose faith is failing, whose hope is dwindling and who believe that no one cares.  I call this the power of Baptism - a present power in us and not just a ritual initiation that takes place for most of us as infants.  Jesus has summoned us and has given us a power to preach the gospel and reach out to others.  That summons is within us.  Can we hear it?  AMEN