Reading I: Amos 7:12-15
Reading II: Ephesians 1:3-14
GOSPEL: Mark 6:7-13
Mission Impossible XX: Prophet of God
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to drop what you are doing, leave your home, and go out and preach the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sounds like an intimidating task, right? But wait, there’s more; leave your credit cards, debit cards, money clips, purses, smart phones, tablets, laptops, iPod’s, and SUV’s at home, as well. How is that for a daunting mission? Well this is the mission Jesus sends his twelve disciples on in this Sunday’s gospel!
Impossible Prophet
Is it impossible for you to see yourself as a prophet? Amos, from the first reading, didn’t see himself as a prophet either. As the king tried to convince him to flee back to Judah, he argued: “I was no prophet… The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”
Amos did what the Lord told him to do, just as the twelve disciples followed Jesus’ instructions and left behind all that they had in order to proclaim repentance, cast out demons, and cure the sick. Amos and the disciples listened with open hearts and went out to do the Lord’s work. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn’t impossible, either.
Priest, Prophet, and King
We are all baptized Priest, Prophet, and King. We are blessed in Christ Jesus. The second reading discusses the grace that God bestows on us through Jesus: redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, insight, and so much more. God calls us to praise his glory. Sometimes the difficulty is not in praising God but in opening ourselves up to hear God’s will.
So what is the Lord calling you to do? Where is he calling you to do it? Amos was called to leave Judah and go prophesy in Israel. The disciples were called to leave everything behind to go preach repentance. Is your heart and intention open to hear the task God has in mind for you?
Maybe the Lord is calling you to be more kingly at home with your friends and family. Maybe the Lord is calling you to be more priestly at work or in your community. Maybe God just wants you to go out and spread some Good News. With a little bit of trust, we, too, can grab our sandals and head out the door to live and be God’ mission. And it won’t be an impossible one!
Life Applications:
What do you think God’s mission is for you?
Are you prepared to hear God’s call? What can you do to be more open to His message?
Would you leave behind all of your present valuables to do God’s will?
Original article by Brandon Jubar, 2003-2021.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.