"Who will take their place?" "who will be his successor" "How can we replace him" This is a question that’s frequently asked when someone resigns from a management position or gets transferred.
This shows the genuine interest of the leaders to show their passion for one's mission. Jesus in the gospel and David in the first reading, delegate their authority to their followers. It is written, “Jesus chose and appointed them to be with him and to be sent out” (cf. Mk 3:14). Jesus, who called his apostles to be with him, sends them out two-by-two on the mission.
Three things are worth noting in the narrative, and they are the challenges to us:
(a) ‘He gave them authority’: Jesus was convinced from the beginning that the apostles or disciples were not mere followers; they were participants in the mission. By giving a share of his authority, Jesus not only empowers the apostles but also equates them to himself. He trusts that they will carry the mission forward. Here the importance is not given to persons (Christ and disciples), but the mission itself, there Jesus identifies himself. And, like Jesus, they must subdue evil, its power, and its actions. Every baptized individual is a partner in the mission, having the authority of Jesus. Are we aware of this privilege? And are we in control of evil in our life situations?
In the first reading, David installs Solomon as his successor to the throne. David embraces life, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth.” David not only accepts the realities of life but also surrenders to them. David makes Solomon a participant in the mission as the king of Israel.
(b) Minimalist living
Jesus teaches his disciples to live not only a minimalist lifestyle but also an essentialist way of life, i.e., to declutter our cupboards, bags, and minds. When it was thought that one who has more is more, Jesus proposed an alternative worldview: ‘I am what I am, not what I have.’ He wants his disciples to imitate him in poverty (cf. Mt 8:20). He makes them realise that “life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (cf. Lk 12:15). Minimalist living is proposed today as a lifestyle. Social media and internet decluttering are the needs of the hour.
(c) Honour from within
Jesus instructs his apostles that the greatest honour that comes to us is that which comes from within us. The criticisms, rejections, and misunderstandings that we face from without must not be taken into heart. How do we handle the negative criticism without?
# In our journey towards the synodal church, we must realise that we are participants in a mission. The Synthesis Report, in fact, underlines this. We are not mere spectators of the church’s celebrations, nor are we mere followers of our church leaders. When we encourage participation, we will tap human resources better and make our Church richer. (Ju
No comments:
Post a Comment