Amala William csc –
Readings: Acts 11:21-26; Mt 10:7-13
The mission that Jesus gave to the Apostles was clear-wherever they went, they had to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was at hand and he gave them authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and cast out the demons. He also assured them of his providential care that their material needs would be taken care of, because if they worked, they would receive the reward.
I believe that Jesus wants every Christian to do this same mission, to proclaim God’s Kingdom, to become Christians who spread healing, hope, love and renewal of life or a change of heart. Through the gospel, I find that the essence of the mission is to proclaim the Kingdom of God in every place and not to worry about where to stay or where to get food.
A priest once asked a parent, “when will you baptize your child?” The parent answered that the child will decide when he/she grew up. In response, the priest asked, “will you do the same with regard to the child’s schooling, will you wait for the child to grow up and decide to go or not to the school?” The parent was just silent.
We cannot deny that today many parents are busy making money to give their children comforts. And Christian schools and colleges are busy creating toppers. We have given importance to material things than spiritual and gospel values.
Look at the world. Who are more corrupt and crooked? Are they not the educated? Today’s gospel reminds us how negligent we have become in remembering our mission, i.e., first, we must proclaim the kingdom of God, spread love, and hope in this world and the rest will be taken care of.
Christian families must wake up to the fact that family is a domestic church where love, forgiveness and gospel values are taught first. Christian schools and colleges must return to their roots in educating the heart and mind of the students to serve, be respectful and thoughtful of the weak, the poor, and downtrodden.