In the context of our Lord sending his newly chosen disciples, it speaks of the very beginning of their ministry. The scope of their activity is to look after their own people- a leaderless multitude who seem to be lost and deprived of guidance.
Christ takes pity on their plight, because they are like sheep without a shepherd, and turns his attention to alleviating their distress. The ministry of the first disciples is gradually unfolded; it is one of mercy and forgiveness, accompanied by a vast campaign of spiritual and physical healing.
Their role is to be active preachers who proclaim the saving work of God. He gives them the authority of expelling unclean spirits and curing sickness and disease of every kind. They are the powers that Christ exercises in his own ministry when he goes about teaching and preaching in Galilee.
It is worth noting that even though the time is pressing and the loss of the harvest of souls is imminent, Christ urges his disciples not just to head straight into activity but to pray that the Lord of the harvest will help them in their work.
Prayer helps us realise that we are called by God and encourages us to live up to our responsibilities as his people. In prayer we come to better appreciate the value of God’s mercy and the magnitude of his love for sinners.
Only through prayer can we share the life of Christ in the unique way the apostles did.
As members of the body of Christ, we are called by name at baptism and are his chosen ones. We are given the mandate to deliver God’s message to the world.
As Christians it is our task to continue the work of Christ. It is in our preaching and living out the gospel that we can offer salvation to others. In the midst of trials, when we look upon human problems with understanding hearts, we bring Christ’s presence showing that He cares.
By reflecting Christ’s values in our lives and through our actions, we can become great ambassadors in building God’s kingdom. It is no small challenge to be Christ’s messenger as it demands humble faith and trust in the Lord.
Fr Clifford D’souza MSFS is the Parish Priest of St Bernadette’s Lalor Park Parish.
