By Leon Bent –
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states, “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit…we become members of Christ…and are made sharers in his mission” (CCC 1213). After Jesus finished his earthly mission, he urged us: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19-20; Also CCC 1276).
Pope Francis says, “The missionary disciple has first of all a centre, a point of reference, which is the person of Jesus.” He noted several instances in which Jesus acted, in these verses: “It was he who called them, he who sent them, he who gave them power, he who commanded them. In almost every sentence, Jesus is the subject, and the apostles are the direct objects. This repetition, the Pope reiterated, “highlights the fact that, the Apostles have nothing of their own to announce, nor capable on their own to show for themselves, but they speak and act, as those “Sent, as Messengers of Jesus.”
Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist – “Jesus was Born”, figuratively, after which the Father uttered ecstatically, and sent: “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to him” (Mt. 3:16; Mk.19:9-11; Lk.1:21-22; cf. Jn. 1:9-34, 3:21-22).
After Jesus’ Transfiguration, he had a “Born Again”, “Twice Born” in the Spirit (Jesus to Nicodemus: Jn.3:5), Mountain-Top”, “Earth-Meets-Heaven” moment! (Mt.17:5; 9:2; Lk.9:28-36; Ezek.1:28, Acts [Paul] 9:3-19). So must we, if we are to be “Baptized and Sent” missionaries!
In telling Jesus’ Story persuasively, forcefully, brilliantly, like the “Burning Bush” (Exodus 3:1-17), from which God Himself “Called” Moses, we too, must become a blazing, illuminating, “Burning Bush”, with the Passionate, Personal, Profound, Presence of Jesus in our hearts. Then, Jesus will “Call” the world from our Burning Bush, and its people will hear the Father’s vibrant voice: “This is my beloved daughter/son listen to her/him”.
And, they certainly will, because their hearts will “burn within them” (Luke 24:32)! The two disciples realized, “Were not our hearts burning inside us, as he (Jesus) talked to us on the long walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus?”“It is a “victory of the eyes”: They became aware it was Jesus, in the “breaking of the bread.” At length their joy and wonder find words; they hasten to share their amazing experience with their afflicted brothers. True heart-to-heart talk pours passion in our hearts, vision in our minds and wind in our feet. The conversation between the two disciples and Jesus was about the “Last things and the Lasting things”. This is one of Luke’s masterpieces! “The road to Emmaus” is not just a story. It is our story. Our lives, too, must be touched at a deeper level by the Rabbi, Redeemer and the Risen Lord! Indeed, this is the New Evangelization!
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road; as he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:28-82.) Perhaps, we are baffled by the way God apparently works in our world; he may be closer to us than we realize. The Word of God reveals that the great business of life is to glorify the Lord by enjoying Him forever, and sharing him with others.
This mandate! We, too, are “Baptized, Called, Gifted and Commissioned to broadcast the Gospel across the Seven Seas, ‘Charismatically’, through Baptism by Fire”! Baptized and Sent!
Now, this gold nugget! We must only walk with Jesus, along a long, lonely, liminal, counter-cultural, radical, sanctified, enlightened path, with fire in our hearts, as evangelizers!
And, this final flourish! Jesus is the inspiration behind the captivating stories of mission. These highly motivating narrations invite baptized Christians, into a deeper, richer, more fruitful participation in “Good News” promotion, anywhere, everywhere, anytime, all the time.
The punch line! To be Baptized and Sent, in fiery Spirit-Power, then, is just a sacred dance under Jesus’ gaze!
Leon Bent is an ex-Seminarian and studied the Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Philosophy, from St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He holds Masters Degree in English Literature and Aesthetics. He has published three Books and have 20 on the anvil. He has two extensively “Researched” Volumes to his name: Hail Full of Grace and Matrimony: The Thousand Faces of Love. He won The Examiner, Silver Pen Award, 2000 for writing on Social Issues, the clincher being a Researched Article on Gypsies in India, published in an issue of the (worldwide circulation) Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, New Delhi. On April, 28, 2018, Leon received the Cardinal Ivan Dias Award for a research paper in Mariology.