Gospel: Luke 10:1-12
Carry no
money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever
house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person
lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the
laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to
another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before
you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for
you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
Jesus
speaks about the commissioning of His seventy-two disciples. He tells them that
there is an enormous work for them to do. They are few, but the people to whom
they will preach the Gospel are many.
Even
today, there are few who preach the Gospel, and fewer still who preach and live
it. Yet millions of people desperately need to hear the Good News. They are
yearning to hear the words of Jesus, while many others have not even heard the
life-changing message of the Lord.
So,
what are we doing about it? Will we simply sit still, remain in our comfort
zones, and do nothing to share in the mission of Jesus? Evangelization is no
longer confined to face-to-face preaching. In many ways, it has become easier
because we can now share the Gospel through social media using our computers
and mobile phones.
Instead
of simply posting about ourselves, why not share something related to Jesus and
our faith? Let us post something that can bring someone closer to God. Perhaps
a simple reflection, a verse from Scripture, a message of hope, or a testimony
of God's goodness can touch a person's heart and remind them that God has not
forgotten them.
When
we do this, we become followers of Jesus not only in words but also in deeds.
But
our evangelization should not end with what we post. Let us also see to it that
we live what we preach and practice what we post on our social media accounts.
The fullness of our discipleship comes when our lives reflect the Gospel that
we proclaim.
If
we preach simple living, let us live simply. If we preach humility, let us live
humbly. If we preach forgiveness, let us be forgiving. If we speak about love,
let us make our lives instruments of love. If we encourage others to trust God,
let us also learn to surrender our own worries and anxieties to Him.
Our
words may inspire someone for a moment, but the witness of our lives can remain
in someone's heart for a long time. We may never know how God can use a simple
post, a kind word, a humble gesture, a forgiving heart, or a life faithfully
lived to lead someone closer to Him.
Jesus
wants us to be His co-laborers in His vineyard. We may feel that we are few,
that our talents are limited, or that what we can do is insignificant. But the
mission belongs to Jesus, and we are simply called to offer Him what we have.
We should not be consumed by worry about our needs, for He knows what we need
and will provide for us according to His loving providence.
Let
us therefore step beyond our comfort zones and allow the Holy Spirit to use our
words, our actions, our technology, our relationships, and our daily lives for
the spread of the Gospel. May we never become Christians who merely speak about
Jesus, but disciples whose lives make His presence visible to others.
Are we willing to let Jesus use not only our lips but also our
lives, our social-media presence, our talents, and our everyday actions to
bring someone closer to Him—and when someone encounters us, will they see
enough of Jesus in the way we live to desire to know Him more?— Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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