First Reading: Amos 7:12-15
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
What would your reaction be if someone said to you: “You have been elected!”? I imagine you would have a few questions. What office have I been elected to hold? Who elected me? When was the election?
I am not talking about an election in a democratic process, where the majority of votes win…but a divine election! The decision maker is God. We have been chosen by God? What is the office? St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians tells us that we were chosen “before the foundation of the world”. The office is ambassador for Christ – that is a witness.
When you hold an office, there is always a responsibility. We are to live a holy and faith-filled life. Just like the disciples in today’s gospel, we do not need possessions to fulfill the work of Jesus Chris. Jesus is the real possession! His word and power are always with us.
The love of Jesus Christ overwhelms us in so many ways. St. Paul in his Letter to the Galatians (2:20) illustrates how the love of Jesus not only overwhelmed, but transformed him. “I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” Faith is the impact of the love of God in his heart.
At the end of each Mass, we are sent forth on mission to witness to the world – our world – our family, neighborhood, workplace, school, church etc. Consider the forms of the dismissal: Go forth, the Mass is ended, or Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord or Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life, or Go in peace.
Learn how to witness – look at the apostles! The
apostles watched Jesus – watch Jesus at work in your life and those around you! The apostles listened to Jesus – Jesus wants to teach us in prayer, in Sacred Scripture, through the examples of the lives of the saints and in so many other ways!
Expect the power of Jesus to work wanders in your life! Say “yes” to the love of Jesus, just like the disciples did in today’s gospel. Jesus is asking each one of us: “Do you want to be a witness for me? What is your answer? May God bless us all always! Deacon Mike