Behold, I Am Sending You Out Like Lambs Among Wolves

07-03-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, VC

In the Gospel, we heard how Jesus sent his 72 disciples to go out and preach the Good News to everyone, to cure the sick and cast out evil spirits. In preparing them for the mission, Jesus told them that he is sending them out like sheep among wolves and told them not to worry about their personal needs for protection and support but to rely on the generosity of the people they will visit and the protection from God.

This Gospel reminds us that there is a difference between the apostles of Jesus and his disciples. Christian tradition identifies the twelve apostles with ordained ministers in the Church. While the disciples, such as the 72 sent out on mission in today’s Gospel, are understood to be lay-people. This Gospel reminds us that the missionary life of the Church is not only for the clergy. The mission is for everyone, ordained and non-ordained followers of Christ alike. The Vatican II document on the role of missionary life of the Church states clearly that the “Church is missionary by its nature” (Ad Gentes 2). Every Christian is called to participate in the spreading of the message of Christ through a commitment to prayer and a commitment to action. While the ministry of the ordained is mostly centered around the celebration of the Sacraments, the laity, in addition to participating in the Liturgy, are sent out to go and share the Gospel message with their families, community, and in their places of work.

Every Catholic parish community is technically a Mission Center where we come to receive instruction from Jesus in the Gospel, be fed by Him in the Eucharist, and sent out to go and share the Good News with everyone in our lives. Our discipleship can therefore be summed up in two phrases: “Come and witness” and “Go and share.” If we truly have a personal encounter with Jesus, we will want to share our experience with other people around us. The mission of the 72 is what is considered today as door-to-door ministry. Most Catholics dread the door-to-door ministry compared to other denominations. Jesus reminds us today not to be afraid of ministering to other people in our neighborhood. He assures us that God himself will be with us and provide all our needs.

What we witnessed last weekend, with the overturning of “Roe V Wade” by the Supreme Court, is a classic example of the power of prayer through the active role of laity in our Church. I thank all those who have relentlessly prayed over the decades for the protection and respect for human life, those who volunteered so many hours to help expecting mothers in need, and those who made personal sacrificial financial support to the cause of Pro-Life. May the Lord continue to grant us strength and courage as we continue with the mission of the 72 disciples in our community and the world.

Fr. James

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