This week’s gospel reading recounts “the sending out of the seventy-two” disciples to preach the bursting forth of the Reign of God. They were preaching this reign that was “at hand” and is still coming upon us. Last week the theme of Sunday’s readings was “God’s call”. And so we reflected on God’s call to each of us, here and now.
God’s call to each of us is at the same time unique for each one of us and yet the same in that we are all called to live in and build up the Reign of God. But are we ready to “live” the Reign of God? Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it will not be easy, and in fact our very lives may be at risk for proclaiming it and “living it”. Jesus cautions us that we are being sent out into the world “like lambs among wolves”.
As we are celebrating the 4th of July, the great “high feast day” of our nation, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we as citizens are working to build a country that reflects the Reign of God? Are the homeless being housed...are the thirsty quenched...are the hungry being fed...are immigrants, migrants and refugees being welcomed? Is achieving true racial justice a national value and goal to which we are actively working? Are these not signs of the bursting forth of the Reign of God?
And when we fail to feed the hungry, to shelter the homeless and to welcome the immigrant, migrant and refugee and when we fail in creating true racial justice, then we fail “the mission”; we fail to build up the Reign of God”! Each of us has been called to build up the Reign of God...to “live” it in the here and now.
Perhaps in light of the celebration of our nation’s birthday we should take a few minutes to reflect on how, we as a nation, and as individuals, are doing living out the mission Jesus gave us and ask ourselves what we might need to do differently, as individuals and as a nation.
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
God’s call to each of us is at the same time unique for each one of us and yet the same in that we are all called to live in and build up the Reign of God. But are we ready to “live” the Reign of God? Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it will not be easy, and in fact our very lives may be at risk for proclaiming it and “living it”. Jesus cautions us that we are being sent out into the world “like lambs among wolves”.
As we are celebrating the 4th of July, the great “high feast day” of our nation, perhaps we should ask ourselves if we as citizens are working to build a country that reflects the Reign of God? Are the homeless being housed...are the thirsty quenched...are the hungry being fed...are immigrants, migrants and refugees being welcomed? Is achieving true racial justice a national value and goal to which we are actively working? Are these not signs of the bursting forth of the Reign of God?
And when we fail to feed the hungry, to shelter the homeless and to welcome the immigrant, migrant and refugee and when we fail in creating true racial justice, then we fail “the mission”; we fail to build up the Reign of God”! Each of us has been called to build up the Reign of God...to “live” it in the here and now.
Perhaps in light of the celebration of our nation’s birthday we should take a few minutes to reflect on how, we as a nation, and as individuals, are doing living out the mission Jesus gave us and ask ourselves what we might need to do differently, as individuals and as a nation.
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
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