Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time (October 18, 2017): Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
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 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.'”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus sends his disciples forth as evangelizers. This is our mission; it’s the mission of the Church. We’re sent forth as evangelizers at the end of every Mass. The priest, speaking for Jesus, empowers us with words such as: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord” or “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” Or, as in Luke 10:3, “Go on your way! Behold, I am sending you!”

Jesus commissions us and commands us to go and make a difference in the world, in whatever capacity we can, in our homes, workplaces, recreation, etc.

“Go!” is the main action verb in Christianity. “I am sending you” is the main agenda in Christianity. The original Greek word for being “sent forth” evolved into the word “apostle” — an apostle is a disciple sent by the teacher to do the work that the teacher assigns.

All Christians are supposed to mature into apostles. We all have apostolates! Our apostolates are assignments from Jesus to use whatever gifts we have, with whatever we’ve learned, wherever we find ourselves.

There are four stages of apostleship. First is PREPARATION, when we are discipled and disciplined by Jesus. We learn from hardships. We discover what impassions us. We mature in the recognition of and use of our gifts and talents.

Next is INVOLVEMENT, when we become active in ministry. Even before our preparations are finished, we start using our gifts and passions and newly gained wisdom in the service of God. And, by the way, if you are finding no outlet for the service you can give to God, contact me at Good News Ministries. We often are able to open doors that satisfy the desire to make a difference for the kingdom of Christ. Good News Ministries is plural — we are not Good News Ministry — because we do many forms of ministry under the over-arching mission of bringing others closer to Christ and helping them on their journey to heaven. What would you like to do with the preparations you’ve been through? Talk to us about it! Go to gnm.org/about-join.

Next, if we truly desire to be effective apostles, we enter into TESTING. We experience trials that challenge us where we’re called to serve, like gold purified in fire. For some, it’s the “dark night of the soul” and it might continue for years.

For example, we find ourselves in difficult relationships that challenge us to love and forgive more sacrificially. Our ministries might be interrupted by obstacles that challenge our trust in God and stretch our ability to discern where he’s leading us. If we don’t run away from these challenges or quit for the sake of an easier life, we’re ready for Stage 4: SIGNIFICANT INVOLVEMENT, when we’re useful enough to reach our full potential and make a huge difference.

To help you advance in your usefulness to God, you can use my own personal prayer for this, which I’ve shared on our website at wordbytes.gnm.org/discernment-prayer-to-become-Gods-instrument.

Today’s Prayer:Lord, I want You to reign in my life, and to follow Your steps courageously. Help me to die to my own ambitions and make me shine with what is good and true. Amen.