July 7, 2019 Jesus Calls His Disciples

July 7:  Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C

Reading I:   Isaiah 66:10-14c

Psalm:   66

Reading II:  Galatians 6:14-18

Gospel:  Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus calling His disciples. He challenges them to step into the unknown, without taking backpack, money, etc. to go about bringing the Good News of Salvation and the coming of The Kingdom of God. He asks them to depend on the people to provide food and lodging for the night. The Holy Spirit will be their Guide. Above all, they are to place their trust in Him.

Then, Jesus gives them the power to drive out evil spirits. He bestows his peace on them which they are to pass on to all who will receive it. However, he tells them that if people will not receive his peace, it will return to them. If one town does not accept them, they are to move on to another more welcoming place.

When the disciples return from their missions, they are all excited and happy! They exclaim to Jesus “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” While Jesus understands their enthusiasm, he warns them against pride:

     

I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
                                                                                                                Luke 18-19

Jesus has also taught them, and us through them, that by calling on his name, we are protected against the powers of evil.       

Jesus explains to them, “The Kingdom of God is very near.” In the Spiritual Kingdom of God, things will be different. It will be a Kingdom of Love, characterized by compassion, justice, inclusiveness, and forgiveness. Jesus has taught them and given them example by His preaching and His life.

Each Christian, whether priest, deacon, consecrated religious brother or sister, married or single, is called to be a disciple of Jesus in his or her time. Daily, each of us is challenged to bring about the Kingdom
of God. 

As a younger person, I recall feeling overwhelmed as I was praying the “Our Father.” When I was praying “Thy kingdom come,” I questioned how I could ever help bring about the Kingdom of God in such a far-flung and complicated world.

The Lord spoke in my heart telling me that to begin I could make him the King of my heart. There could be a deep peace in my heart, in spite of what was going on in my life and in the world. He would lead me to the people for whom He wanted me to be His hands and heart to care, to listen, and to love in a such a way that the Kingdom of God would be realized.

If each one of us, on the path that Jesus has laid out for us, will live as He did, how many people would have a little taste of Heaven on Earth!   

 Reflection Question:  How can I bring love and peace to those with whom I come in contact?  In other words, how can I help to make God’s Kingdom come?

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Jesús llama a sus discípulos

En el evangelio de hoy, escuchamos a Jesús llamando a sus discípulos. Él los reta a entrar en lo desconocido, sin llevar mochila, dinero, etc. para llevar la Buena Nueva de la Salvación y la venida del Reino de Dios. Les pide que dependan de la gente para proveer comida y alojamiento para la noche. El Espíritu Santo será su Guía. Sobre todo, ellos deben depositar su confianza en él. 

Entonces, Jesús les da el poder de expulsar a los espíritus malignos. Él les otorga la paz que deben transmitir a todos los que la recibirán. Sin embargo, él les dice que si la gente no recibe su paz, volverá a ellos. Si un pueblo no los acepta, deben mudarse a otro lugar más acogedor.

Cuando los discípulos regresan de sus misiones, ¡todos están emocionados y felices! Ellos exclaman a Jesús: “Señor, incluso los demonios están sujetos a nosotros por tu nombre”. Mientras Jesús entiende su entusiasmo, él les advierte contra el orgullo:

     

He observado a Satanás caer como un rayo del cielo. He aquí te he dado el poder de “pisar las serpientes” y los escorpiones y sobre toda la fuerza de la El enemigo y nada te hará daño. Sin embargo, no se regocijen porque el los espíritus están sujetos a ti, pero regocíjate porque tus nombres están escritos en el cielo.
                                                                                                                Lucas 18-19

Jesús también les enseñó, y nosotros a través de ellos, que al invocar su nombre, estamos protegidos contra los poderes del mal.     

Jesús les explica: “El Reino de Dios está muy cerca”. En el Reino espiritual de Dios, las cosas serán diferentes. Será un Reino de amor, caracterizado por la compasión, la justicia, la inclusión y el perdón. Jesús les ha enseñado y les ha dado ejemplo por su predicación y 
su vida.

Cada cristiano, ya sea sacerdote, diácono, hermano o hermana religiosa consagrada, casado o soltero, es llamado a ser discípulo de Jesús en su tiempo. Diariamente, cada uno de nosotros tiene el reto de lograr el Reino de Dios.

Como una persona más joven, recuerdo que me sentí abrumado cuando estaba rezando el “Padre Nuestro”. Cuando estaba orando “Venga tu reino”, me pregunté cómo podría alguna vez ayudar al Reino de Dios en un lugar tan extenso y complicado. mundo.

El Señor habló en mi corazón diciéndome que, para comenzar, podría convertirlo en el Rey de mi corazón. Podría haber una profunda paz en mi corazón, a pesar de lo que estaba sucediendo en mi vida y en el mundo. Él me llevaría a las personas para las cuales quería que fuera Sus manos y su corazón para cuidar, escuchar y amar de tal manera que el Reino de Dios se realizara.

Si cada uno de nosotros, en el camino que Jesús nos ha tendido, vivirá como lo hizo, ¡cuántas personas tendrían una pequeña muestra del Cielo en la Tierra!

 Pregunta de Reflexíon:  ¿Cómo puedo traer amor y paz a aquellos con quienes entro en contacto? En otras palabras, ¿cómo puedo ayudar a hacer que el Reino de Dios venga?

Comments:

Stephanie Morris, Ph. D, Historian, Certified Archivist, emerita

Jesus told the disciples to go to “every town and place.… Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.” We are not likely to travel that lightly, but Jesus is telling us that we don’t have to be burdened with technology and lots of baggage to spread the news of the Kingdom. As Mother Katharine noted, when we have God with us, we are united with Him and in His Kingdom. Heaven is here, now, when we are united with God. We don’t have to do extraordinary things or preach with grand eloquence. Just doing what God asks us to do in the best way we can is enough to share God’s Kingdom with all we meet.

Pat Chiaffa, ASBS

“Our Father, Who aren’t in heaven, hollowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come; my will be done…” Thus began the prayer of my five-year-old granddaughter and myself. I am confident that Jesus smiled as warmly as I did at her attempts to say The Lord’s Prayer. I spent a few moments clarifying the words on which she stumbled. But, she wanted to know about God’s Kingdom. Was it like the kingdom in the movie, “Frozen?” Does God have magic power like Princess Elsa? Is there a happy ending in heaven? It would have been easy to just say “Yes” to all three questions to avoid the “why” questions sure to follow, but I wanted to paint a more realistic picture so she did not think that Heaven was a fantasy castle. 

My explanation went something like, “God’s Kingdom is even more awesome than the Frozen kingdom because it is not limited by walls. It is bigger than big where we can all fit and have lots of space to play, sing, be happy and healthy and enjoy being with God.  God’s power is better than magical; it is miraculous. God can make sick people well, help people who are sad become less sad, and heal hurts that people cause one another when they are angry or say something unkind. God is all about love. He made us to love and our happy ending is going to heaven – the Kingdom of Love.” Luckily, my granddaughter was satisfied with my response – she wanted to watch U-Tube videos, and for once, I was in favor of that activity! However, our faulty words and conversation about heaven stayed with me. 

Hallowed, not hollowed. How often do I take to heart just how reverently I should be entering into conversation with my Heavenly Father? My words are hollow when I don’t take a moment to center myself to enter the sacred space of prayer. Thy will, not mine, be done…that little mistake struck me immensely. I habitually utter, “Thy will,” but I’m actually praying for my will to be done. Praying with a preschooler proved to be quite a spiritual lesson for me. What about the Kingdom?

Randy Robison, author and host of Life Today, describes the kingdom as, “a royal power, kingship, and dominion not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom. In other words, a kingdom isn’t necessarily a tract of land or a collection of cities. It is a sphere of influence under the authority of a sole ruler.”  Jesus told Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world. “Christ’s kingdom is one of influence and authority, not borders and cities.”  In 1 Corinthians 4:20, St. Paul asserts that “the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.”

“The proof of His kingdom doesn’t come on Sunday morning when the congregation is watching,” states Robison, rather, “it comes during the week when you’re alone. It’s not about how loudly it’s declared, but how soundly it’s lived. It’s easy to make a show of it through forceful words, but the real measure comes in the quiet time, when transgression takes hold, discord sets in, discontent reigns, patience evaporates, and every other fruit of the Spirit withers, the kingdom of heaven is not present. Even so, it is still near. It’s just a matter of changing our mind and renewing our spirit.”

The way we live indicates whether we are abiding in His kingdom. Paul encouraged believers to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12. 

Paul goes on to say that we do this by receiving His word. Evidence that we have received it comes when it performs its work in us. Its work is changing our minds. When our minds change, aligning with His truth, it changes everything – the way we think, speak, and act. This enables us to spread His kingdom by expanding His influence.