XV Sunday of the Year

CALLED AND SENT

Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13

Readings for the XV Sunday of the Year

She begins her program with a Bach symphony. She next plays an Irish air, then a Bob Dylan folk song, and finally a jazz improvisation. The venue: a hospice. The audience: one, a 70-year-old woman with terminal cancer. Through her music she provides a measure of peace for those walking their last steps in this world.

She is a “little” Carmelite nun! She’s just 5’ tall, does not have a professional qualification (in her words: “I am only tenth pass.”). But people from every walk of life – bishops, priests, religious; teenagers, couples – and every religion come to seek guidance. She is one of the best spiritual directors I have met.

With their “walking sticks” – a guitar and a listening ear – these two unnamed apostles reach out to the needy. They make us realize that we don’t need much to be apostles of compassion and healing.

 

This is emphasis of today’s liturgy. 

The first reading is about the prophetic ministry of Amos, a sheep-breeder from Tekoa, Judah. God sends him to Israel, where he denounces social injustice and religious laxity. He goes to a foreign land and pulls them up for their laxity! He claims that he is not a professional prophet: “I am not a prophet, nor a prophet’s son.” God’s word: “Go prophesy” is his only qualification. 

The Gospel is about the mission of the Twelve. They are unqualified for the mission: no social position, no education in scripture/ theology. Plus they had Jesus’ instructions: “no resources! What do they carry with them? A walking stick, authority from Jesus, his message, and trust in him. 

All of us, by our baptism, are called and chosen. St Paul emphasises that in the second reading. We are called and chosen and given the mission to proclaim the good news, to reach out to the sick and the downtrodden. 

We do not have to be “professionals”, qualified priests/ prophets/ theologians to proclaim the good news, to reach out to God’s people. We have the sole qualification we need: BDC… Baptised Disciples of Christ!

Do I believe that God has called me and given me the mission to be his messenger to the people in my life? How am I going to proclaim his message in the week ahead? What is the “the walking stick” I will use to reach out to people?