Back in East Africa people in the village always tease Holy Cross members, that you took the vow of poverty, but it is we ourselves who live it and not you. Why? You are driving a car, and you seem not to lack anything. Of course, the vow of poverty is a voluntary promise made to God by members of religious orders to renounce the independent ownership of material goods and live simply in imitation of Jesus Christ. It involves sharing everything within the religious community. In that sense, we do share one car with three to four members. They have the wrong assumption.
Called to Go Forth
In today’s gospel Jesus sends out seventy disciples to proclaim the presence of the Kingdom of God. He goes ahead to also outline the key things that should define their mission: prayer, dependence on God, and readiness for both acceptance and rejection. Not only will this mission be fruitful, but it will also be challenging at other times. Some will be receptive to their message, others hostile and non-responsive.
He instructed them on how they were to carry out their ministry; they must go and serve as men without guile, full of charity and peace and simplicity. They must give full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by lesser things. They must travel light, take only the essentials, and leave behind what distracts them. They must concentrate on the task of doing God’s work. Jesus was sending them as lambs among wolves, reminding them that their mission would place them in vulnerable situations. In those moments, they were called to rely on God’s protection and provision, modeling faith and trust in Him.
Responding to Christ’s Call
As Jesus states; the harvest is rich and the laborers are few. Every one of us here is being invited to be a true disciple of Jesus. Jesus is inviting us to follow in His footsteps by spreading His message as He did with His first disciples. We must be willing to go where He sends us, even if it means encountering challenges and rejection (even in our families and people around us). As His true disciples we must embody His teachings, share His love and grace with others, and rely on Him for strength, guidance and provision.
As we respond to His invitation, we must be humble, dependent on God’s power, and ready to prioritize the Kingdom of God above all else. Responding to Jesus call to be His laborers requires trust, faith, and obedience in following the path that He has set before us, regardless of the challenges we may face. As true disciples of His, God works powerfully through us to make known his presence to others.
Assured of His protection, and consistent presence let us open ourselves fully to what He is doing for us. He has drawn near to us through his Son, and He desires us to draw near to Him and remain in communion with Him. From the strength of that communion, we are then called to go forth and become laborers in His harvest.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fulgens' inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass in its entirety here: Family Rosary YouTube page.
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