RESPONSIBILITY AND TRIPLE MISSION

 

God calls people to communicate His message and do His works. In the first reading prophet Amaziah is prophesying in the Babylon exile. The priest warns him to flee to Judah. The reply of Amos (Am 7:14-15) is noteworthy. In the ancient world kings had their own group of seers, prophets, soothsayers… to get advises. The sons of those prophets and seers succeed their professions. Since they are at the service of the kings their prophecy can be flattering at times to please the king. The prophetic service of Amos comes not from his birth rite – sons of prophets, rather from God Himself; for he was an ordinary dresser in sycamore tree. In his prophecy there cannot be words that pleases king. He is called by God to give the message of God to the king. The nature of message cannot be designed by the prophet. Thus, Amos rebukes king and his priest Amaziah that his prophecy can neither be bent as per king’s wish nor he be frightened by any threat that the king suggests for him. His prophecy is the Word of God, the messenger – prophet, is ready to endure any trial in communicating the Word of God.

     Jesus’ instruction to the twelve and sending them two by two is the gospel of today (Mk 6:7-13). Here, we see that Jesus is preparing His successors who would continue His mission after Him. Any leader of the movement should prepare his/her successors to carry forward the movement or else the movement will perish after his/her demise. Jesus being the beginner and opener of the kingdom of God, prepares His successors to carry forward that kingdom till it reaches completion at His second coming.  The content of disciple’s mission is as same as Jesus’: proclaim the kingdom of God, call for repentance, cast out the demons & heal the sick. The purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth is to destroy the influence of Satan in the world and remove human afflictions such as sickness and poverty. The church leaders are called to carry out this work till the end of time. Today the mission of the clergy is limited to the celebration of the sacraments and some social works in the developing nations. Together with that every clergy has got mission to find out the works of satan in the society, in the lives of people and cast them out. In the modern society, the understanding of the existence of satan is limited to demonic possession alone. This is dangerous and not proper. The influence of satan is seen in every part of the society. With the development of psychology and medical advancements many ailments that were associated with demonic possessions were debunked. They are tools to discern the real demonic possessions, but they do not deny the existence of the devil and its’ influence. We need bishops and priests to counter the works of devil. Let the clergy take this task seriously as it is commissioned by Jesus Himself. The solemn exorcism is reserved to particular priests but every priest has the duty to remove the influence of satan in his community.    

Form v. 8-11 Jesus gives the outline about the life-style of clergy and the responsibility that people have toward them. The prophets are to be focused on conveying the message that is entrusted to them, as it happened in the life of Amos. The needs of the prophets will be provided as per the circumstances and they are to be ready to face any discomforts. The hospitality toward the ministers of the word is a gifted-occasion for the beneficiaries. The shaking of the dust from the feet toward the inhospitable people is not condemning their disrespect, rather showing them, “we respect your decision and even leave the sand that inevitably accompany our foot.” It is like leaving everything that belongs to them in way of respecting their decision of contempt. In this pandemic time we are susceptible to pray over the sick and intercede for their healing. In the gospel Jesus tells the apostles to pray over the sick with the oil, which Jesus Himself did.

The readings of today invite the clergy to realize the power of their call and act accordingly. The ordained ministers have power over demons, they are not mere preachers and ordinary church functionaries. Every priest has responsibility to fight against the attack of the devil upon himself and the society. On the other hand, the faithful have duty to be hospitable toward their ministers. In the mission land this virtue is practised enthusiastically, where as in evangelized settings there is a considerable distance between clergy and the laity. The individualism of priests and the abuse in the church can be reduced through the fraternal care of the faithful toward their ministers. Let laity’s responsibility of hospitality and ministers focus on preaching, healing and exorcising (TRIPLE MISSION) grow day by day.