By Fr. Andrew Kelly
15TH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME, JULY 15
Every Sunday the believing community is sent on the mission described in Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 6:7-13): “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.”
Jesus is clear about the mission task and message. Jesus gives the community authority to proclaim repentance, cast out unclean spirits and cure the sick. The authority the community carries on mission is the person and presence of the risen Lord.
2012 community life is much more complex than when Mark wrote his Gospel. Contemporary technical and digital resources needed for mission are expensive. Maybe so expensive and complicated the resources get in the way of the mission.
Sunday, as the community listens, Jesus demands simplicity of needs in mission work:
“He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.”
The community mission can be kept simple because it has all the power it needs in the authority of Jesus’ presence. Jesus’ presence is what animates Jesus’ message and mission.
In a world of sophisticated digital technology, Jesus calls for mission simplicity. This call gives the community pause for serious reflection.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for July 15-22
Sunday
Am 7:12-15
Eph 1:3-14 or Eph 1:3-10
Mk 6:7-13
Monday
Is 1:10-17
Mt 10:34-11:1
Tuesday
Is 7:1-9
Mt 11:20-24
Wednesday
Is 10:5-7, 13b-16
Mt 11:25-27
Thursday
Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19
Mt 11:28-30
Friday
Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8
Mt 12:1-8
Saturday
Mi 2:1-5
Mt 12:14-21
Sunday
Jer 23:1-6
Eph 2:13-18
Mk 6:30-34
