July 12, 2015
Sunday, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Times
1st Reading: Am 7:12-15
2nd Reading: Eph 1:3-14
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.
D@iGITAL EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
When God calls he empowers. That is why it is really immaterial that the person He calls is weak and powerless. What matters is the person’s willingness to serve Him. Consider the case of the Apostles.
They were just fishermen relying upon an uncertain profession. Most of them, if not all, were unlettered and uneducated. Jesus disregarded their social standing and chose them to be fishers of men, giving them power over evil spirits. The call realigned their career paths to the Father’s dream of unity (one flock under one shepherd).
Were their intentions noble? Some of them probably followed Jesus out of dissatisfaction over their unpredictable profession in the Sea of Galilee. Peter himself once asked what they could get in return for leaving behind their families. But at least they showed their willingness to serve God by immediately leaving their nets when Jesus called them. Because they cooperated with God, grace purified their intentions in the process. Their weakness brought out to the open the strength of God.
“Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the Apostles” (Acts 5:12).
God is calling us too. Imperfect though we are, God needs our cooperation. Let us put our talents and giftedness at the service of the realization of God’s dream. We are not empowered for nothing. The noble purpose of our talents is to introduce Christ to the world as the true shepherd who can lead all people to verdant pastures and refreshing waters. Never ever feel inept and ill equipped for the task.
When God calls he empowers. If you are really convinced that you are unworthy and incapable, you might just be the right person for God to call and empower. In your weakness God’s power reaches perfection. — Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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