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Reflection

It often happens that when we tell another person something that has happened to us, we are not believed. We share an experience in good faith, hoping to be listened to and believed, but the opposite happens. This can upset and even anger us. In the gospel this Sunday, as Jesus sends out his disciples, he prepares them for the possibility of such a response to their message. Either they will be welcomed and able to minister fruitfully, or they will be rejected and their ministry will not be accepted. Jesus is not asking them to do anything he has not already done or experienced himself.

Not everyone who heard him accepted his message and often he was rejected and run out of town! This is not surprising as his message was and still is very challenging. The message Jesus speaks is one of mercy, love of strangers and even enemies, forgiveness, and concern for the poor and neglected.

Jesus called each of these disciples personally and then sent them out in his name. He trusted them with the responsibility of carrying in his mission and ministry. Today, Jesus calls each of us by our name and entrusts us with the same responsibility. Today, each of us is asked by Jesus to not only to hear and believe in him, we are called to share this good news whenever and wherever we can.

As Pope Francis reminds us in the Joy of the Gospel, Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Jesus Christ: we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ or ‘missionaries’, but always missionary disciples.’ The mission and vocation to hear and share the good news of the gospel belongs to all of us, not just some of us. The responsibility of promoting and building the Kingdom belongs to all the baptised. We should not be discouraged if and when people do not listen to us. The quality of our lives is the greatest example we can offer others. The church documents tell that above all the gospel must be proclaimed by witness. Jesus has called each of us by our name, he has filled each of us with his Spirit and sends us out in his name; we are not alone.