Word: The Lord empowers the modern day disciples to spread His word.
Order: “Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” (Lk 10:3)
The Sunday gospels this month recall Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the experiences He encounters at what was then the center of Jewish religious and political power. In this reading, Jesus is sending 72 disciples on a mission ahead of him to spiritually prepare the villages He himself would later visit. They were being sent to announce the basic message of his teaching: “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Lk 10:11) Proof that they were His genuine messengers was the peace that would fill the hearts of those who accept and hear their message. Fast-forward to the present day, and contemporary disciples on the same mission.
This will lead us to the Word for the month of July: The Lord empowers the modern day disciples to spread His word. The same instructions Jesus gave His early disciples continue to be the moving force and guideline for us today.
The themes and promises of each week of July should show us, modern day disciples, how we could serve and put to concrete action God’s word in our mission fields through love of neighbor, sensitivity to and obedience to His commands, and by perseverance in prayer. It emphasizes obedience to God’s Word in our lives as we serve Him in our community and the greater church.
Our theme for the first week states: As modern day disciples, we spread His word when we go on mission. The harvest is plentiful; there is much to be done, but the workers are few. The church realizes that if she is to fulfill her mission of preaching the gospel to all men, efforts can’t be confined to the priests and the religious but extended to all who believe in Christ – the laity. This includes us, if we consider ourselves Christians for there is “an obligation imposed on us, and woe to us if we do not preach the gospel!” (1Cor 9:16) Let us do our share in evangelizing others as messengers of Christian peace and love, bringing with us Jesus – His words, His love, His peace, that He may be seen in us and in all our ways – “that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.” (1Cor 9:14)
In the second week, our theme is: As modern day disciples, we spread His word when we love our neighbor as ourselves. We learned during our Boy Scout years the slogan: ‘Do a good deed daily’. The very essence of this week’s gospel, faith in God as expressed by our love for others. It is not an option, but a command: “You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” (Lk 10:27) It could be said that we fulfill all of God’s commandments when we love our God, and our neighbor.
Theme for the third week declares: As modern day disciples, we spread His word when we listen to His voice. We are busy with so many things, and so are prone to commit mistakes, neglect some responsibilities, and forget some people along the way. We have no time for ourselves, no time to reflect on our lives, no time to listen to God’s word, or pray. We forget that the real purpose of our life is to enter God’s kingdom, and that nothing, absolutely nothing, should hinder us from attaining this goal of eternal life.
And finally, the fourth week’s theme is: As modern day disciples, we spread His word when we persevere in prayer. The readings invite us to reflect on the way we pray, our confidence that God listens to us, and that our prayers will be answered. Let us be true in our prayers. Let us mean what we say and say what we mean when we pray. When we say “as we forgive those who trespass against us”, but fail to even truly forgive, we are merely making ourselves foolish in the eyes of God. Jesus wants us to be genuine and to join Him in forgiving others, for stubbornness will cost us heaven.
The ECSL’s inspired Order for the month states: “Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” (Lk 10:3) Evangelizing is not easy. It requires determination to help build community which will eventually help build God’s kingdom. We must have a clear understanding of what it means to be Christian and to strive to be like Christ. We should be resolute in finding the best way to serve the Lord better as a good Christian and as member of Bukas Loob Covenant Community.
