Ordinary time, Sunday 11/7/2021, week 15th Mk 6, 7-13
We are today on 15th Sunday in Ordinary time. In today's Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples to proclaim the Good news and tells them to travel light and having confidence in God's care for them. Making a plan is normal in our lives. We worry about our future. So we make everything to ensure everything happens as we want, or as we expect. An unexpected event can make us nervous.
We have heard in these readings, God also has a plan for us, he calls us to cooperate with him to make his plan of salvation. He calls us to put our confidence in God, make our plan in his plan.
In the second reading, like the Gospel of Saint John, the letter to the Ephesians speaks of a re-creation of the world in which humanity is in his plan, to receive his grace, his blessing and to let us known his plan which is rooted in the mystery of his will. And all that we do is for the glory of God.
In the Gospel, before sending out his disciples on their apostolic work, Jesus instructed them to travel light. They should not take anything except a staff which symbolizes authority. The word of Jesus should not be taken literally. It means that the disciples of Jesus should have the poverty of the spirit. The poverty of the spirit frees the Apostles from preoccupation with his possession and makes room for God’s provision. As we know, the term Apostle means messenger. The Apostles of Jesus are messengers of the God news. They should be aware of their mission, which is to proclaim the Good News, does not depend on the material wealth but their total dependence on God, the sender.
Reliance on Divine Providence is a state of mind or disposition whereby we live in a certain peace of mind, not worrying ourselves with a conviction that God will provide. It doesn’t mean do nothing. But “pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you.” We make our plan in God’s plan.
It depends on one thing, our faith, our confidence in God. Are we ready to put our future in God's hands? Do we accept his call as prophet Amos, a shepherd, to become the prophet of God? He did not choose it. But it was God who called him for this mission as he said “ I was a shepherd and looked after sycamores, but it was the Lord who took me from herding the flock, and the Lord who said, “ Go, prophesy to my people Israel”
Accepting God’s plan is taking a risky way to say the truth for those who do not want to hear, to not make our own security but God's security. Becoming the disciples of Jesus is never be in a comfortable life. As pope Francis wants for the Church: “I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its security …” The Church of Jesus should be with people and proclaim his Good news, not seeking a comfortable place.
We are all called to become his disciples, to spread the Good news to others. Once we know that we are not on a mission that is our mission, we should be confident that if it is God who sent me, the same God will provide for the mission. As Jesus said “But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil ».