You Can do it if you Believe

Thursday of the 4th Week of Ordinary Time

Heb 12: 18-19, 21-24; Mk 6: 7-13

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

What a visionary.  Paul’s visions of the Old and the New Testament God are so graphic.  First, he gives his vision the Old Covenant vision of the God of Moses- fearful, terrifying, power and might, and foreboding.  It was a vision such that people begged that there be no more of it.  In fact, Paul says even Moses thought the scene was terrifying.  But then, Paul gives a vision of God in the New Testament- a heaven that awaits all of us because we are the ones invited to approach it.  It is a wonderful, joyful, welcoming place of peace and joy.  Such a contrast!   

It seems to me that the first vision communicates a sense of overwhelming power- a power that none of us can cope with, a power that is hopelessly beyond us, the power of the almighty God.  It evokes fear, because it should evoke fear.  All of us are so small compared to God, that all of us should fear the immensity and the power of the supreme being.  It is a power and might that should strip of us of all our prideful inclinations.  And indeed, that was the emotion that Moses described.   

But the fact is that when Jesus came, it was our merciful God coming among us to calm our fears.  Jesus broadcast a message of the love and mercy of God.  It was as if God was saying, “Look, I will take on your nature so that you can see that you do not need to fear me like that; just listen to me, and I will show you the way so that you can be with me in eternal joy.  Don’t worry, be happy; I am a God of mercy”.   

But with that promise, there comes a price to pay.  That’s what our Gospel is all about today.  Did you notice that Jesus sends his disciples forth to preach before his passion?  It was a sort of trial run of the Apostle’s future mission after He dies and is resurrected.  These men of faith are told what to do- to carry out their mission with confidence and in faith.  They are empowered with authority.  And walla, they do it- they cure the sick, drive out demons and work miracles!   

Now the way I see it, these men were just showing all of us the way.  We, too, are being sent out to work miracles and spread the good news.  First we have to believe.  Then the conviction of our belief and the reassurance of our God will give us the authority and the confidence to do mighty things.  Unlike the Apostles, whose mission really was to spread Christianity to the whole World. our mission is much less ambitious.  We just need to practice our faith in our lives, in our families, and in our communities- in our little world.  We are called upon to do that with confidence and authority, so that our brothers will see that Christianity is the way and the truth.  In our little world, there are many demons to cast out:  Abortion, lusts of all kinds, and materialism are just a few;  And there are many illnesses to cure: addictions, psychological disorders, and others.  And we can do it, because we really do believe.   

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