With a Mission

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent!

7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 [a]Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. 9 Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; 10 no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter a house, wish it peace. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.[b] 14 [c]Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. 15 Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.-Matthew10:7-15

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent! Let's mend our ways. It is not such a difficult thing to do when one is open to change. But if one resists, there the problem enters. So many despise religious men and women for doing their jobs. So many blame the missionaries for the spread of HIV-AIDS in Africa because the latter is teaching against the use of condoms. The scientific and medical communities hail themselves as the real helpers in solving the problem by providing condoms and other ways to stop the virus. Really? Just really? But I say, let's not just focus on HIV-AIDS but the deeper root of the problem - lack of self-control and lack of discipline. If one chooses to say No to premarital sex or fornication, then s/he preserves herself/himself. You don't worry about sexually transmitted disease, or malicious videos. You respect your very self as a holy temple. The Church is never against having a happy life. But how do you define happiness?

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Our Call

For flesh and blood[d] has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi[a] he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist,[b] others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 [c]Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood[d] has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,[e] and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.[f] Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”-Matthew16:13-19

Today is the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. They have sacrificed much for the propagation of the Christian faith. As Jesus called these two men for the ministry, Jesus calls us too to continue the ministry in anyway we can - as priests, religious men and women, and as lay members. What can we do? What does God want us to do for others? How can we spread and share Christ?

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Ministry continues

Love God and one's neighbor.

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.-Luke4:14-22

Jesus shares the ministry on us all. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us too, and has bestowed us with gifts necessary to do the work He entrusted to us. Yes, we too must proclaim good news to the poor. And the poor is not only found in the streets, but is also found everywhere like in broken families. Jesus sends us to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. And the prisoners are not only found behind bars, but are also seen everywhere like those who were prisoners of addiction, or those trapped in an abusive and/or violent relationships. Jesus sends us to recover and restore the sight of the blind. And the blind is not only those without eyesight, but also found everywhere like those who lost sight of what is good and bad. Jesus sends us to free the oppressed. And the oppressed can be the men and women who toil hard for meager pay. Yes, 2015 is a year of the Lord's favor on us all. The Lord's favor, however, may come in different forms and guises. Are we open to receive God's favor in our life?

Image courtesy: artist