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June 16
Unknown
Gospel: Mt 9:36 - 10:8
Commissioning of the Apostles
Why did He do it?
Jesus, the Son of God, knew that Simon Peter would deny him three times. He knew that Judas Iscariot would betray him and hand him over to the chief priests. Why had he chosen them to be His apostles, His most important disciples? He should have known better than that. Right?
Well?
Jesus knew that He would have to suffer a painful death. He knew on that fateful day his apostles would cower up in a room and not even dare go out for fear of being identified as one of His. But He also knew that His death was part of God?s plan of salvation for mankind. Judas and Peter played big roles in God?s ultimate master plan without them knowing it. Jesus knew that His death would not be the end of it all. He trusted on His Father?s will and obeyed, and because of that, we lived.
After Jesus? death, His disciples continued spreading the Good News and bringing people to God. Maybe it wasn?t explicitly stated in the text, but you can just imagine what the disciples went through to build the early Church. They had to leave their families, their homes, and their jobs behind and travel to unfamiliar and far away lands to preach there. They had to withstand being ostracized, being arrested, and being persecuted by the authorities. They were lucky to find shelter to stay for the night; on other days, they had to survive the freezing night of the desert.
From these incidents, you can probably imagine the cost of obedience. How much sacrifice it takes to do the right thing. Being the eldest in our family, I can say that the responsibilities at home can entail some pressure, too. I?m the one who usually does the errands for my parents. There are times that I?m so tired and sleepy and really feel like going to sleep already, and still I have to get up and answer the phone or fix something. For someone who?s really takaw-tulog at home like me, it?s a big sacrifice already. But I know that my parents knew that I can handle these responsibilities, that?s why they count on me. And I don?t really get rewarded or anything, ?cause those things are expected of me. It?s part of life, much like you don?t get rewarded for brushing your teeth or taking a bath. It?s something you do as a person.
In today?s gospel, Jesus commissions His apostles to ?go to the lost sheep of Israel? and proclaim the Word of God. He gave them authority over unclean spirits and to drive them out and cure every disease and every illness. But there?s a catch. Jesus added, ?Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.? To be able to fulfill their mission, the disciples must be totally selfless and all-giving.
All of us have a mission. All of us are individually included in God?s master plan. As a student, as a son or a daughter, as a sibling, as a friend, as a citizen. Let us open our hearts to His call and offer generously without delay. The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few.
How much are you giving?
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