THE TRAINING OF THE APOSTLES

XV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mk 6:7-13

In this Sunday’s gospel, Mark presents the training of the Apostles. Jesus spent time teaching them or giving them the theology of the Kingdom of God, but that could remain very theoretical, and Jesus came to present a new way of life, which is much more a practice (praxis) then a theory. So Jesus sent the Apostles into the field to be tested and to practice what they had learnt. As he sent them, Jesus gave them some final instructions.

He sent them in pairs

It is interesting to notice that Jesus sent them in pairs, so that they can lean upon each other and strengthen each other. Jesus came to establish a community, and in carrying out their mission, the Apostles must give witness to the spirit of community. It is important to point out this aspect, specially in this time, when we live in a society full of individualism. I must always remember that I cannot be a Christian alone, without being part of the body of Christ, being thus connected to all others who are members of the same body. And the preaching of the Gospel has always to be done as a common task that we carry out together.

He gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 

And there are so many unclean spirits that oppress us and rob us of inner peace and of a harmonious relationship with the others. There is the spirit of selfishness, greed, lust, pride and the hunger for power and dominion. There is the spirit of dejection and the spirit of revolt, which transforms us into enemies of God and of each other. Once we allow them to occupy our hearts, they change us into slaves and our hearts will always be in constant turmoil. Only Christ is our peace and only he can bring joy to our hearts. As the psalm says: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” (Ps 23:1).

A simple and poor life

Jesus commanded the Apostles to live a simple and poor life. In fact, they should carry only the bare minimum. No extras. Nothing that is not essential. Francis of Assisi took Jesus’ advice to the letter and led a very poor and humble life. The Church cannot approach the poor, when she is endowed with all kinds of goods, being rich and powerful. The preachers of the Gospel must lead a simple life as Jesus advised the Apostles to do.

Walk away and go somewhere else

All those who preach the Gospel must be prepared for  the shock of rejection. Many will refuse to believe. And Jesus told the Apostles not to waste their time, but to walk away and go somewhere else, while shaking off the dust from their feet as a warning of the gravity of their rejection.

The Apostles work

Finally Mark summarises the Apostles pastoral work:

• they preached repentance. 

This call to repentance is the first message of the Gospel, since without repentance it is impossible to hear and accept the Good News of salvation.

• They casted out many devils

We need to be set free from the influence and dominance of evil, so that our hearts may be open to accept Jesus Christ and in him find peace.

• healing people

The proclamation of the Gospel must go hand in hand with an effort to alleviate people’s suffering. Whenever we meet someone in pain, we cannot pass by; instead, like the Good Samaritan, we must stop and stoop down, so that we hear the cry of his/her heart and anoint them with compassion and love. And this compassion and love will lead us to look for new ways to alleviate their suffering.

Nowadays, many preachers attribute all sickness to demonic possession, but the Gospels make it clear that they are two different realities. In fact, many sicknesses have nothing to do with the devil, but are the result of our created nature, with our bodies being affected by everything that surrounds us.

Called and sent

The word we preach is not our own word; it is God’s word.

Amos said it clearly: I did not take it upon myself; it is not my initiative. I was called and sent.

Like Amos, it does not matter where we come from or what kind of job we did before. God calls whoever he wants. We only have to respond to his call and be faithful to the work he entrusts to us.