💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 1 💖

First Reading - 1 Kings 2:2-4,10-12

Gospel - Mark 6:7-13

We have heard quite often a statement from one of the documents of the Vatican II - "The Church is missionary by nature." The mission is the sap that brings vitality and life in the Church. The readings of today invite us to reflect upon the missionary call of ours; this is an invitation to understand the importance of the message of the gospel.

The first reading tells about the instruction of David to his son Solomon. The instruction of David is couched in deuteronomistic language which demanded the obedience of people to God; In short, according to the deuteronomistic history, the obedience to God brings reward and prosperity but disobedience to God brings punishment. In the instruction to Solomon, David stresses on winning the favour of God by walking the way of commandment and carrying out all the instructions enshrined in the law faithfully as that manifests the will of God for people.

The gospel passage contains the mission injunction of Jesus. The disciples are sent out two by two for the mission. The word "sent out" which often is used for an official authorized mission and "two by two" refers to the usual Jewish practice; besides that, it also establishes the truthfulness of the message. Hence, the mission of the disciples was authorised and empowered by Jesus with its authenticity. The disciples were instructed to make the mission their priority and no any other things because the message of the gospel was more urgent and necessary than any provision; they were also instructed to learn to rely on God and His providence for their necessities; furthermore, they were also instructed to depend on the hospitality of the hosts for their other necessities.

Dear friends, at the end of every mass, we are dismissed with the sentence - "Go forth the mass is ended." This is nothing but a mission injunction given to us. We are also sent out, like the disciples of Jesus, to proclaim and live what we have heard and imbibed. However, the readings of today give us reminders that we have to listen and act according to the law of God or will of God not as we want. As we carry out the mission injunction of Jesus, we have to remember that it's the message of the gospel that should become the priority of our lives and nothing else. And we also have to learn to trust in God whose work we do that He will provide us with everything needed for us. It means when God calls for a work He also equips us for it.

Let's allow the message of the gospel to sink into our whole being so that we will be able to reach every nook and corner of the world with the message of the gospel with our words and actions.