FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR, B.
15th July 2018.
Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13.
The Good News of the kingdom of God as we see in today’s gospel is healing of brokenness and repentance from evil. God demands that we repent from our evil ways by rejecting all that leads to reciprocal violence in the form of rivalry. The human relation is susceptible to violence, especially when are desires converge on the things that cannot be shared. Conversion in the form of renunciation of the will to violence is what the kingdom demands. In addition, He goes the extra mile to heal the wounds of our broken lives and relationship. He demands forgiveness from us in order to rebuild trust and friendship. This is what the disciples go out to preach.
The instruction given to the disciples is God’s way of preparing us for his mission on earth. It is detachment from the things that cause distraction. They come, disguised and concealed in various forms in order to avoid detection. They sweep us off our feet when our attention is distracted. Amos was a sycamore tree dresser when he was called to be a prophet. He confirmed that God prepared him for the mission of prophecy. ‘I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets …I was a shepherd, and looked after sycamores: but it was the Lord who took me from herding the flock, and the Lord who said, “Go, and prophesy to my people Israel.”’
Sending out in pairs is significant for the family. The lord instituted the family union in order to continue through us his loving work of creation. When two persons are united in love, God prepares them for the mission of family life. Their individual gifts are combined toward the goal of family union. They enrich the mission through the combination of their gifts that comes in the form of skills- wisdom, discernment, emotional intelligence, patience, listening, understanding, physical strength, etc. when couples in love combine their gifts or skills, the burden of family life is made easy, enjoyable and fruitful.
Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.
