15th Sunday Ordinary Time
Fr. Peter Robinson
Preached: July 14, 2024
As I reflected on today’s Gospel Reading, memories came flooding back from my childhood. I’m thinking of Jesus’ comment of going out “two by two.” You see, back in the 1960s there were some cousins on my mother’s side who were part of a tiny, religious group called the “Two by Twos.” The group’s ministers travelled and worked in groups of two, hence the name; and members held regular, weekly worship gatherings in their homes on Sunday and midweek. Interestingly, the group still exists, but it is outside the Church because it denies the Trinity. So, there is one way of understanding Jesus’ words in Mark 6 — literally. Go out two by two.
But, when we read the Bible through the eyes of the Catholic Church, what did Jesus really have in mind? Well … where you have a Kingdom, you need a King, right? So, when Jesus was born in the Middle East 2000 years ago in today’s West Bank, it meant that God’s King had finally arrived on planet Earth. Thus, God’s Kingdom rule had begun.
I. Jesus’ point, then, was to stress the urgency of God’s Kingdom. His followers had a message to be spread to ALL of Israel. That’s why they were to travel light for speed. His disciples were to wear sandals rather than go barefoot, also for speed and security. They were to rely for their provisions on the welcome they received. If they were unwelcome, they were not to waste time on those who rejected them.
Now, did Jesus think that the Kingship of God would finally burst on the world in his own time, so that there was little time to spare? At this point, let me introduce you to the theological concept of the already and the not yet.
II. In one way, when Jesus arrives, the Kingdom of God has already come. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection fulfilled God’s plan to restore us to friendship with him. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s supernatural power has now been released upon the earth — through his Church.
This is why Jesus could say in John 14:12: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me … will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” Here, Jesus is emphasizing that our faith in him, by the Holy Spirit, will empower us to perform even greater miracles and works than he did. Just think how that promise is still being fulfilled, in today’s century, through the Catholic Church. Consider this: we are currently 1.3 billion Catholics on the planet. As we keep asking the Holy Spirit to help us do the works of Jesus today, the Kingdom of God has already begun.
III. Yet, in another way, the cosmic Kingdom of God is not here yet. There are still sorrow, distress, enmity, fraud, jealousy and plenty of other evils which fracture God’s Kingship. We Catholics are still imperfect reflections of the light of Christ. We are still pilgrim members of a pilgrim Church. To be honest, our efforts are feeble, even as we follow in Christ’s footsteps. So, we hear Jesus’ reminder — we need to travel light.
You see, we are greatly blessed to live in today’s world (and not 200 years ago).
- For example, extreme poverty is measured as living on less than $1.90 (US) / day. As of 2015, the world’s number of those still in extreme poverty was below 10%.
- If you were alive in 1800, there was a 9 in 10 chance that you were not able to read. Today (globally) more than 8 out of 10 people are able to read.
- In 1800, 43% of the world’s newborns died before their 5th birthday. In 2015, child mortality (globally) was down to 4.3%.
And the list goes on — we are blessed to live when we do; but as Jesus put it, we need to travel light. All of the world still needs to hear the Good News of Jesus. So, here’s the kicker: If we choose to live simply, we can devote more of our finances (and more of our energy) to telling the world that the King has arrived. Why? Because this King everyone of us can know personally.
Did you notice, then, how our Gospel Reading ends? “So [Jesus’ disciples] went out and proclaimed that all should repent” (v. 12).
