Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Readings: Proverbs 30:5-9; Psalm 119:29,72,89,101,104,163; Luke 9:1-6
Theme: THE CHALLENGE OF THE MISSION OF CHRIST
The Gospel of today is about the mission of the twelve. Jesus sends out His twelve into the world to make people face life, make decisions about themselves and the world they live in, and to make them look at their values.
These Apostles, who are to live in poverty – “take nothing for the journey”- to give them more authority to speak are to push people a little, to confront them, to require them to make choices in line with the gospel of Jesus. They are to preach repentance. And that means, not just sorrow for sins, but putting one’s whole life in order.
1. What do I want my life to be as a Christian?
2. What basic life decision has to be made about my career, my job, my relationship with my family and about the upbringing of my children?
3. In an era of economic emancipation and corruption in Uganda, how faithful am I as a civil servant in relation to the salary I earn monthly?
Jesus often demanded of people that they make choices like that. He said: “He who is not with me is against me”. It is either God or wealth. We must have a balance between the spiritual things or physical things of this World. This balance is the blessing we ought to pray for as stressed by the first reading ( Proverbs 30:7-9). Robert Cardinal Sarah has written a book: “God or Nothing”. Peter almost failed to make a balance when he requested the building of three Tents (cf. Luke 9:33). If you wish to follow me you must deny yourself and take up the Cross. A choice must be made.
In practical terms this might mean answering questions such as:
1. How would I accept the news that I, or a dear one, have cancer? Would I give in to depression? Would I make it hard for my family?
2. How would I take the opportunity to use the remaining time well, give an example of cheerfulness and humble acceptance of God’s will?
3. How would I accept being fired from my job? Anger and resentment? Jealousy and envy? Or with charitable understanding and courage look into and accept a new future with confidence in my God given ability and God’s Providence?
It is all a matter of values. What do I really want my life to stand for? The Apostles went out to confront people with such decisions. The gospel of today and all of us Christians by virtue of Baptism preach the gospel to others this challenge is before each one of us. What is our response?
God our loving Father, you have told us, that whatever we sow, that we will also reap. Help us to sow only the seeds of the Gospel. Amen!
Fr. Kwehangana Bagubwa Mathias
St. Charles Lwanga Seminary, Nyakibale.