Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends,
In our readings today, we see prophets and apostles who are sent by God to preach and heal on his behalf. In our first reading, we hear about the prophet Amos being thrown out of Bethel and forbidden from prophesying there. The priests of Bethel reject his prophesies and cannot stand his presence, but Amos seems to respond with peaceful confidence, saying that he used to be a simple shepherd before the LORD decided to speak through him and send him on mission to Israel. Amos does not retaliate or make it about himself, but shows peaceful detachment as he tries to remain true to the mission God has entrusted to him.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus sending his disciples out on mission in pairs of two. He takes particular care in instructing them to bring only the clothes on their back and their walking sticks--no food, no money, no “safety net.” The message behind these instructions seems to be: trust me and rely on me as you go forth; have faith that God will work through you and provide for you.
I don’t know about you, but I would have a hard time saying yes to these marching orders from Jesus. I would think of so many “what ifs”--what if I embarrass myself? What if I’m rejected? What if I don’t have the things I need? Maybe Amos had similar thoughts when God called him from his flocks and sent him to prophesy in foreign lands; maybe the apostles felt some of this apprehension as Jesus sent them on their way. But they said YES and they allowed themselves to be sent.
A faith-filled “yes” to God holds so much power, and can literally lead to miracles. The decision to let go of our doubts, our egos, our fears, and to say yes to what God is asking of us can be so hard, but it’s a decision that can change our lives and change the world. Suddenly, like Amos and the apostles, we can go from people living for ourselves to people totally alive and capable of anything God entrusts to us. How is Jesus trying to send you on mission? What are the fears and doubts keeping you from a heartfelt “yes”? Let us go forward boldly, with full confidence in the one who is sending us.
-JULE COPPA, Penn Campus Minister
