So they went off and preached repentance.
They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
So they went off and preached repentance.
They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 15, 2018
Mark 6, 7-13
Next Sunday and the Sunday following the Gospel are dedicated to the mission that Jesus entrusts to the Twelve. First, they are sent. Then they return. So now, having been rejected by the larger group, his townspeople, Jesus devotes more time to his disciples. It is as though the messenger is as important as the message. Far from perfect, those flawed disciples went out in obedience to preach repentance while they were themselves repenting, again and again, because repentance is not a once-and-for-all-thing. It is a way of life called “discipleship”. They cast out demons while demons of fear and doubt roared around in their own lives. They healed many that were sick while they too suffered from the sickness of sin. In short, the power of God became evident through their weakness because these earthen vessels contain real treasure. We relive again this chapter of Mark’s Gospel each time we are dismissed and sent from our church. We dare to hope that in that, in days to come, our presence will bring some peace to another; our presence will bring some healing, and some forgiveness. The excuse that we can’t, that we don’t know enough are not good enough, are not strong enough in faith will not do. It never would have worked for those first ones sent, and it will not work now.
Fr. Tom Boyer