The Lord is always inviting, always giving, always guiding. He invites us into His Mission, He gives us all we need to fulfill our part of it, and He is always guiding us in the surprising paths to achieve it!
He invited the 72 disciples to participate in this Mission in a particular way, gave them what they needed, and then they rejoiced in what they had been able to do in His Name. Jesus then gently guides their hearts to rejoice rightly because their “names are written in heaven.” He reminds them to rejoice in the grace of their call and cooperation, not so much in what they have done, because it is not THEY who have done it, but the Lord working through them: “I have given you the power…”
Turning to the Father, Jesus also rejoices in what the 72 have been able to do, but his joy is directed to the Father in gratitude; he is teaching them to do the same, to remember that their effectiveness and ultimate fruitfulness depend on God’s initiative and grace working in them and through them. They are mere children of the Father, but called to a glorious work and inheritance, if they remember to acknowledge the source of all true power and greatness. Those who consider themselves “learned and clever” and do things based on their own power and greatness cannot bear fruit that lasts; in fact, unless they learn true humility, they will cave in on themselves and achieve little in the long run.
It is no different for us. By our Baptism, we are invited to participate in Christ’s Mission in the world. God is always giving us all we need to fulfill our role in the Mystical Body of Christ and the Spirit of God never ceases to guide us and fill us and empower us for this mission. For our part, we must be open – whatever we sincerely open to God, He will fill! We must be willing to say YES to His invitation – our gift of freedom allows us to say no! We must recognize that whatever we accomplish in His Name is not fully our own – every good work comes through our surrender to His power in our lives! And we must seek His will and allow ourselves to be awed by the paths He calls us to walk – He is a God of surprises!
Like those Jesus called in the Gospel, we too are personally called to walk with him in humility and gratitude. To be salt for what would otherwise become tasteless and rotten, and to be light to every darkened place in this world.
El Señor siempre está invitando, siempre está dando, siempre está guiando. Nos invita a Su Misión, nos da todo lo que necesitamos para cumplir nuestra parte en ella, y siempre está guiándonos por los caminos sorprendentes para lograrlo.
Invitó a los 72 discípulos a participar en esta Misión de una manera particular, les dio lo que necesitaban, y luego se regocijaron por lo que habían podido hacer en Su Nombre. Jesús luego guía suavemente sus corazones para que se regocijen correctamente porque sus “nombres están escritos en el cielo”. Les recuerda que se regocijen en la gracia de su llamado y cooperación, no tanto en lo que han hecho, porque no son ELLOS quienes lo han hecho, sino el Señor que trabaja a través de ellos: “Les he dado el poder…”
Volviéndose hacia el Padre, Jesús también se regocija por lo que los 72 han podido hacer, pero su alegría se dirige al Padre en gratitud; les está enseñando a hacer lo mismo, a recordar que su eficacia y fecundidad final dependen de la iniciativa y la gracia de Dios que trabaja en ellos y a través de ellos. Son meros hijos del Padre, pero llamados a una obra y herencia gloriosa, si recuerdan reconocer la fuente de todo verdadero poder y grandeza. Aquellos que se consideran “eruditos e inteligentes” y hacen las cosas basándose en su propio poder y grandeza no pueden dar fruto que perdure; de hecho, a menos que aprendan la verdadera humildad, se replegarán sobre sí mismos y lograrán poco a largo plazo.
No es diferente para nosotros. Por nuestro Bautismo, estamos invitados a participar en la Misión de Cristo en el mundo. Dios siempre nos está dando todo lo que necesitamos para cumplir nuestro papel en el Cuerpo Místico de Cristo y el Espíritu de Dios nunca deja de guiarnos, llenarnos y capacitarnos para esta misión. Por nuestra parte, debemos estar abiertos: ¡todo lo que sinceramente le abramos a Dios, Él lo llenará! Debemos estar dispuestos a decir Sí a Su invitación: ¡nuestro don de libertad nos permite decir no! Debemos reconocer que todo lo que logramos en Su Nombre no es completamente nuestro: ¡toda buena obra viene a través de nuestra rendición a Su poder en nuestras vidas! Y debemos buscar su voluntad y dejarnos maravillar por los caminos que nos llama a recorrer: ¡Es un Dios de sorpresas!
Como aquellos a quienes Jesús llamó en el Evangelio, también nosotros estamos llamados personalmente a caminar con Él en humildad y gratitud, y a ser sal para lo que de otro modo se volvería insípido y podrido, y luz para todo lugar oscuro de este mundo.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Arturo Rey, unsplash.com/photos/grayscale-photograph-of-jesus-christ-statue-CvnVk7GGQCg