Thursday February 5, 2015
4th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading:
Heb 12:18-19, 21-24
Gospel: Mk 6:7-13
Jesus called the Twelve to him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over evil spirits. And he ordered them to take nothing for the journey except a staff; no food, no bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals and were not to take an extra tunic.
And he added, “In whatever house you are welcomed, stay there until you leave the place. If any place doesn’t receive you and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them.”
So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent. They drove out many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them.
THE GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE EXPERIENCE:
The apostles had more important things to attend to in their mission areas and Jesus did not want them to be saddled with concerns about basic needs. Is the work of evangelization too heavy as not to allow missionaries to work for their daily bread? To Jesus, yes it is! Evangelization is not about words; when the missionary is all words he is a charlatan, a quack. Evangelization is about words and actions involving the whole person’s time, talent and resources.
But the missionary is of flesh and blood and has a tummy to feed. He is no pure baby back ribs but has a belly too. Today’s Gospel reading is a good basis to support our claim that people are duty bound to support priests financially. When the people renege on this duty, the priest will be forced to engage in business to earn his daily bread. When he does his time is divided between apostolate and commerce. His heart too will be divided between God and mammon. Haven’t we heard of the story of a priest reprimanded by his bishop for infant’s laundry and women’s under garments seen hanging from his clotheslines? No he wasn’t violating his vow of chastity. He was engaged in laundry business.
Even with the financial support of parishioners, priests still expose themselves to certain risks. It is common knowledge that some render support with hidden motives. Haven’t we heard of priests who got married to their rich benefactors? We don’t even have to think about this extreme scenario. In many instances the priest is held hostage by benefactors who think they have the right to meddle in Church affairs because the priest is supposed to be beholden to them.
The bottom line is that procurement of basic needs can expose the priest to lots of risks. When the shepherd is lost the flock is also lost. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org
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