Word to the Wise
Saturday, December 3, 2022 - 1st Week of Advent - Sat
[Isa 30:19-21, 23-26 and Matt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8]Then [Jesus[ summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. [Matthew]
These words of Jesus from the gospel scripture for today in the Gospel According to Matthew form the beginning of what scripture scholars call the "Missionary Discourse." It seems appropriate to consider them on the feast of a great Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier SJ.. The discourse tells the Twelve to go to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," indicating that their primary mission is to other Jews. In fact, the Twelve, themselves, are part of that house! The charge is followed by instructions on what they are to wear and how they are to survive. The whole discourse, comprising chapter 10, might be considered the first seminary curriculum! The warnings about persecution probably reflect what was being experienced by Christian missionaries at the time the gospel was composed. What is clear is that Jesus expects the Twelve (and future missionaries) to put him first above all others, including family. Fidelity to the gospel must characterize the missionary.
Pope Francis, in his first and programmatic document, "The Joy of the Gospel" (Evangelii gaudium) has summoned all baptized Catholics to be "missionary disciples." The "new evangelization" proclaimed by Pope St. John Paul II, was and continues to be aimed at those who are Catholic!! But our baptism/confirmation and the Spirit we received challenges us to be missionary disciples to all whom we meet. We don't have to go as far as St. Francis Xavier did. We may not have to do more than turn to the person next to us in the pew or living next door. In this season of Advent, the primary focus is on proclaiming the birth of Jesus, the Incarnation of God in our midst. It is easy to let the secular cultural side of Advent/Christmas dull our awareness of the proclamation. "Merry Christmas" easily takes over from "Christ is born!" What can each of us, as missionary disciples, do in this time to proclaim that message of Jesus' birth? AMEN
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