ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS
If
we own up to our baptism, we, as disciples of today, must discern the call of
putting our faith into action.
Today's Scripture
readings from Nehemiah and St. Luke both concern the proclamation of God's
word. In the first reading, Ezra brings the book of the Law of Moses that the
Lord had prescribed for Israel
to the people gathered in the liturgical assembly. He not only reads from the
book, but also interprets what is read so that all can understand the word of
the Lord. The people weep in repentance, but he tells them this is good news,
adding, "Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength" (Neh 8:10)!
In Luke's Gospel,
Jesus announces the mission of the seventy-two, in addition to that of the
Twelve. He anticipates the focus of Acts - namely, the proclamation of the Word
to the Gentiles - and introduces a need of urgency. If you are to proclaim the
Word of God then you must cure the sick and bring peace to your community. If
we own up to our baptism, we, as disciples of today, must discern the call of
putting our faith into action. Like a missionary vocation, it is a
many-splendored reality that transcends race, gender, age, wealth and so on.
It's about the common good, not individualism!
By responding to the
Word of God we enrich others and ourselves!