14th Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 7th July 2022

As Christians, we live with two theological experiences: ‘the already and the not yet’. With the Incarnation of God in Jesus, ‘the kingdom of heaven/God’ was inaugurated here on earth, and it will be consummated with His second coming, in majesty and glory.

Jesus, in fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (Luke 4:18-19) of spiritual and physical healing, showed us that we could be His co-operators to bring about peace and justice, love and mercy, in an imperfect world tainted by original sin. Jesus is in our midst, and when we surrender our lives completely over to Him and allow Him to exercise His sovereign reign to save, protect, provide for and govern us, He remains within us. Jesus is the kingdom that ‘has already’ come in us.
Jesus’ selection of the twelve men was succeeded by “Go…” just as the celebrant concludes the Eucharistic celebration with ‘Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.’ Jesus chose them not because they were qualified. Still, in commissioning them as apostles, He qualified them from learners/students (Disciples) to His representatives (Apostles), fit for their first mission to be carried out under His authority. He gave them a set of basic principles for evangelisation (7-14) and told them to rely totally on God’s providence. “…have no haversack for the journey….”

Lord, You have already provided for all my needs, and I lack nothing. Imbue in me a poverty of spirit so that I may work with the purity of intention and detachment to labour in Your vineyard.