One day Jimmy was resting on a hill on a warm summer day. Puffy white clouds rolled by and he pondered their shape. Then began to think about God. "God? Are you really there?" Jimmy said out loud.
To his astonishment a voice came from the clouds. "Yes, Jimmy? What can I do for you?" Jimmy asked, "God? What is a million years like to you?" God responded, "A million years to me, Jimmy, is like a minute." "Oh," said Jimmy. "Well, then, what's a million dollars like to you?" "A million dollars to me, Jimmy, is like a penny."
"Wow!" remarked Jimmy, then he said, "You're so generous... can I have one of your pennies?" God replied, "Sure thing, Jimmy! Just a minute."
Needless to say, Jimmy was surprised. The Apostles were surprised and astonished at their success in evangelizing. Today’s readings for Scripture ask us to think about why we are here. “What is the prize if it is not Christ? [de Sales] How can you take hold of him if you don’t follow him? [St. Francis de Sales]
We heard in Isaiah “… as a mother comforts her child so I will comfort you ….” When a baby is being nursed by their mom, they are so peaceful & after being breastfed they just fall asleep in their mother’s arms.
Isaiah does not want us to fall asleep [and I certainly don’t want you to fall asleep now] but he reminds us that our peace and our comfort is in God and ultimately in God’s home! St. Paul prays for us (may), “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit …” And our Gospel verse instructs us, “Let the peace of Jesus Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
Today’s Gospel calls us to be active Evangelizers for Jesus, for the Faith! The kingdom is in our hands! Jesus commissioned the seventy-two to announce His arrival, the Kingdom of God. Jesus commissions us to live the Gospel, the Good News – to bring it to our world; a world seemingly coming apart. A world with a lot of darkness, including our own sinfulness, a world that needs the light of Christ; the light that you and I are called to be in the world. God told Jimmy “to wait a minute” but not seventy-two, Jesus told them “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.”
Unlike Jimmy they did not ask for a penny - they did what Jesus asked them to do share the Gospel. Because they did what Jesus asked of them you and I have received the Gospel Message and Jesus calls us to spread His Good News. The Vatican II Council echoed Jesus’ teaching “There are innumerable opportunities open to the laity for … making the Gospel known and people holy.” Jesus sends us disciples to bring His message to each person we meet. Our Lord Jesus Christ is both the WAY and the DESTINATION of our journey. In society today the first question usually asked is “What’s in it for me?” You can help someone get their name written in heaven, where I hope and pray your name and my name will be written.
The disciples were sent forth with God’s grace to prepare the Way for the Lord, we who are nourished at the Table of the Lord - Renewed and Restore by the Eucharist are to do the same. Jimmy asked, “God, are you really there?”
St. Francis de Sales asked, “What is the prize if it is not Christ? How can you take hold of him if you don’t follow him? We are called to follow God and make His message know by our lives.
For a few minutes, in silence, think about how you will answer God’s call to go forth and proclaim His Gospel.
May God Be Praised.
May God Be Praised.
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