In the Readings of today, we get to see the beginnings of the Christian ministry. This was backed by the weight of a centuries-old tradition originally designed for the Chosen People. But Israel failed to respond to the call, so God sent His Only Son to earth to fulfil His mission, for, ‘So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth,’ says the Lord, ‘it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.’ (Isaiah 11: 55)
In the First Reading (Am 7: 12-15), we see Amos, a shepherd and sycamore fig farmer from Teqoa, stand up to the idolatrous temple priest Amaziah’s directives to turn a blind eye to king Jeroboam II’s arrogance and injustice. Instead, Amos denounces those evils. As a result, in the royal sanctuary of Betel, they accuse him of a political conspiracy against the king. Amaziah, coming out in defence of the Crown’s interests, bans Amos from prophesying against Israel and expels him from the land. Thus, it is the establishment at work against Amos who is focussed on proclaiming God’s Word in its fullness.
Amos’ dispute with Amaziah is of the essence to understand not only Amos’ mission but that of all prophets. This is not simply a page from the past but an echo of the reality of our day and age. How many laypeople and ecclesiastical leaders have the pluck to defend the Church and the community? How many of us are ready to stand up to individuals and governments, worldly philosophies and political currents? How many stick by the Gospel values and announce God’s Word freely, frankly and fearlessly?
Jesus picked up from where the Jewish establishment had left off, rejecting God’s plan. Sick of cowardly, ungrateful, and duplicitous leaders, Jesus prepares the apostolic leadership. He demands no fanfare but simplicity; He seeks no money but dedication; there would be no godfathers but only God the Father to depend on. He called to Him the Twelve and sent them out two by two, according to the Jewish custom, so that they could not only assist each other but also be witnesses as required by the law.
Yet, Jesus did not bind Himself by the laws of the world but moved by grace. He gave the apostles authority over unclean spirits and exhorted them to be unattached to any form of worldliness. Like Amos who had made it clear that he was not a ‘professional’ or paid prophet, Jesus ‘charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.’ Their mission was never to be an enterprise for profit but a selfless and generous service.
Jesus bolstered the apostolic spirit with bold directives. When the apostles arrived in a town, they were to seek a hospitable household. If a place did not receive them or refused to hear them, they were to shake off the dust from their feet (a ritual that the Jews themselves would practise when they returned from pagan lands) ‘for a testimony against them’. To Jesus, Jews who did not receive the Good News were pagans indeed! And it was a testimony against them, in the sense that none but them would be responsible for the judgement that would come upon them, more terrible than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Elsewhere in the Gospels, a lesson in the art of diplomacy is summed up for us, the contemporary Church: ‘Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves’ (Mt. 10: 16) This teaches us that Christians should not behave like cattle on the way to the slaughter house; and our Church should stop beating herself up for accusations made out of the historical context. ‘Let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil’ (Mt 5:37). Yet, as St Paul reminds us, ‘To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.’ (1 Cor 9: 22)
Thus, Christians must be wise, diligent and live by divine grace. The Apostle of the Gentiles, in the Second Reading (Eph 1: 3-14) today, very particularly reminds us that God chose us even before He founded the world, that we may be His children through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of His will and for the praise of His glory. This is considered a glorious hymn to God for His marvellous plan through Christ and His Apostles. Thus, apostolic management is an integral part of God’s plan of salvation. We are all part of it; we are all apostles!