Browsing Reflections

Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C, July 3, 2022

During their Totuus Tuus program, a group of young facilitators of the summer catechesis taught the children a game called: “How to spot a disciple.” A child dressed up and played Peter nailed upside down the cross. Another dressed like Paul with the sword of the man who beheaded him lying on his neck. Yet, another little girl played Maria Goretti with the stab wounds of Alessandro Serenelli all over her body. No disciple is spared a scar on the body. Disciples are not Miss America pageants to whom the greatest fears are scars on their body. The very thing that worldly models dread most, namely—scars are, according to Paul, what makes a model Christian disciple. Flogging, stoning, beating, interrogations before worldly powers, abuse and calumny are, for Paul, marks of Jesus on his body. Like a wounded veteran, old-time railroad worker with missing fingers, a disciple is known by her scars.

Last Sunday, we reflected on vocation to specific ministries; today’s reflection centers on the universal call to discipleship. When Jesus sent out His twelve apostles, He limited the scope of their mission “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Today, He declares that the harvest is too great for only twelve people. Hence, He calls many more. Jewish tradition and understanding had it that there were twelve tribes of Israel and 70 nations on earth. How they arrived at the number 70, I cannot tell you; but when the Bible uses numbers it speaks symbolically. It is understood that Jesus’ sending of 70 disciples symbolizes the universal call to discipleship, which every believer answers at baptism. If the call of the 12 represents invitation to the ordained ministry of the Church, the call of the 70 or 72 disciples represents lay discipleship.  

The question shouldn’t be whether lay people are part of the evangelizing mission of the Church but to what degree. Currently, many have chosen to ignore the call and become merely “cultural Catholics.” Is there any doubt in our minds that cultural Catholicism is dead and rotting in the grave? Jesus announced: “Go on your way: see, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” We must take the Gospel to the world, the workplace, the marketplace, and to the Public Square. Intentional Catholics must put on the mantle of discipleship or risk being swallowed up by the wolves prowling around today’s world (both the real and online world) and devouring souls. Disciples must pray and work; praying as if everything depended on God and working as if everything depended on them.

The commitment to prayer and action means that we must pray for those on the frontline of the battle—priests/bishops. The intentional Catholic has the duty to pray someone into the priesthood or religious life and commit to the good news by word, life and action; acting as a leaven, and changing the world from the inside with Christ-like attitudes and behaviors. People seeing a Catholic should also see someone they can’t talk into taking bribes, doing drugs, missing Mass because a friend visited or because you’re on vacation. They should see you and immediately know that you cannot lie, cheat or use God’s name in vain; and as a Catholic child, can’t disobey your parents and teachers.

Finally, since laborers in the vineyard carry no purse, backpacks or sandals, lay action implies providing these needs. Did you hear the story of the $20 and $1 bill? They finally met each other at the US Treasury where they were about to be destroyed after their long life, having got rumpled and murky. The $20 was the first to speak. “I don’t mind. I've had a good run, been to many excellent restaurants, casinos, cruise ships and malls.” Then the $20 bill asks the $1, “How about you, buddy?” Downcast, the $1 bill responded, “Lousy, awful! I’ve spent most of my life at the bottom of the collection baskets in Catholic Churches.” Generosity is integral to discipleship.

Fr. Chukwudi Jo Okonkwo

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