Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Randy Flores SVD – Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
These two travelling Jesuit missionaries from Portugal have practically nothing with them as they embark on a dangerous mission in Japan. Just a dusty leather bag each worn across their skinny bodies. They must rely solely on divine providence called hospitality. The Japanese Christians who pray in secret and practice their faith in silence show this hospitality by welcoming the two strangers, hiding them in a small hut, taking care of them and even bravely shedding their blood for them. The scene comes from Martin Scorsese’s movie Silence (2016, based on Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel with the same title).
It’s the Commissioning of the Twelve. Jesus summons (prosakaleō in Greek), sends (apostellō), gives (didōmi) authority, and orders them (paranggelō). The four verbs are reminiscent of the dispatching of soldiers for the battlefield. But instead of sending a battalion of missionaries like in the Roman Legion, Jesus sends only two – duo duo (two by two) for every town. The Law of Moses requires at least two persons to have a truthful and communal testimony.
While a Roman soldier is dispatched with 40 kilos of equipment – clothing, arms, armor, and food, Jesus dispatches his disciples, instructing them to carry “nothing” (mēdeis) at all.They should only carry a communal witness, Jesus’ authority and his message. Those are enough. For the rest, they must rely on the hospitality of strangers.
The missionary must not be a lone ranger but must work beginning with a community of two. Their authority (exousia) is not to be self-serving, it must be used for others’ benefit. The message must not be long-winding and complicated, it should be simple: “repentance” (metanoia in Greek) – a change of heart and mind. The mission must not be selective but for the rich or poor, Jewish or Gentile. The mission must be free and not forced: if rejected, a simple shaking the dust off the feet will do: no cursing words, no profanities, no violent threats, no “pagtatampo” (Filipino way of keeping grudges). Success or failure depends on God’s hands.
The story of the Commissioning does not end here. The Evangelist Mark informs us that the “sent-ones” (apostoloi) gather around Jesus and share with him “all they had done and taught.” Some succeed while others could fail. Even Jesus failed in his own hometown where he was belittled. What is important is not so much the success of their mission as the regathering of the Twelve with their Master. Jesus called them – “to be with him” (met’ auto in Mark 3:14). So, Jesus invites them to be with him to a deserted place to rest a while (Mark 6:31). Jesus’ missionaries must be contemplatives in action.
Some points for reflection: What mission or missions has Jesus reserved for me? What do I need to accomplish this mission? Who are my partners in the mission? Can I honestly say that I have been with Jesus so I can embark on such a mission?
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