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15thSunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
St. Mark’s Church, Fallston / 9:00 & 11:00
July 15, 2018
Becoming Disciples
By Nicholas “Kioko” Amato
Introduction
Last week I returned from being part of a medical mission trip to Kenya, East Africa, with five members of Nativity parish in Timonium.
Our first day in the little Kenyan village of Kiu, we were welcomed by 500 children and adult members of the Kamba Tribe. We were given bracelets (demo)and Kamba names. Henceforth, I was to known as Kioko, a word meaning “morning.”
As part of our preparation to go, we attended six sessions at Nativity and went on a retreat together.
A big point that kept getting repeated was that we were going to Africa to empower people rather than give them things; we were going to Africa in order to build relationships rather than “fix” things.
Power Given (Readings)
I mention this mission experience because today’s readings also speak of a mission to which each of us, as a disciple of Jesus, is called.
IN THE FIRST READING we hear Amos saying, “I was no prophet …. I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees.”
Yet, notice that the lord takes him from his flock and says to him, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”
The idea here is that even in the humblest of jobs and the most menial labor, we’re taken by God to prophesy to God’s people. That is, we’re to offer them a word of consolation, call them to care for the common good, and do good to those who have less, materially.
THE SECOND READING declares that it is,“God the Father who chose us in Jesus, before the foundation of the world, to be holy.”
It continues, “In him we have been redeemed by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.”
And as if that’s not enough, it continues: “In him we were also chosen … so that we might exist for the praise of his glory.
That’s a lot of blessings to take in. Just think: You have been chosen before the world began; you’re been forgiven your sins; you’ve been destined to give God glory through how you live your life.
THEN THE GOSPEL spells out what how our lives are to be led. We see Jesus summoning the 12 and sending them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits and all sorts of evil and darkness.
So, we are all, in a very real sense, called and empowered to join others in being missionaries, disciples, followers of Jesus.
Power Released (NCR)
So you might ask, “How is this power as a disciple of Jesus to be released in me?”
In our training to go to Kenya, we learned of three very ordinary, concrete things that each of us could do, things that would act as sort of ignition switch (gesture)or springboards (gesture)for this power, this grace of God, to be released in us.
The first was to have NO EXPECTATIONS. The second was to move out of our COMFORT ZONE, and the third was to REMAIN FLEXIBLE.
Adhering to those three practices would unleash God’s grace in us. It was quite a promise!
Power Applied
For me, in going on the mission, NO EXPECTATIONS meant I would not expect to be appreciated, though I was. I’d have easy plane connections from London to Nairobi, which they weren’t, and that, everything would run smoothly, which it didn’t.
For us in the “mission” of our home, neighborhood or work, our expectation might be that we’d feel appreciated by your boss, or the traffic to your destination would have no detours or construction, or our day would run according to plan.
“Fat chance you say,” yet, without expectations, there’s no disappointment when things do go awry.
For me, going on mission, moving out of my COMFORT ZONE included the daily cold shower, the fear of getting malaria or typhoid, eating the food of another culture
For us in the “mission” of our home, neighborhood or work environment, moving out of our “comfort zone” might be breaking your routine to help someone out, or not being able to relax after work in order to spend some time with your kids or grandkids.
Finally, for me, going on the mission, REMAINING FLEXIBLE would come to mean our car breaking down twice, awaiting a new driver because our first one became ill, or finding it difficult to eat lunch because too many sick people still needed to be seen.
For us in the “mission” of our home, neighborhood or work, “flexibility” might be someone getting sick and needing our attention, having to postpone a vacation, or rearrange your schedule.
Conclusion
Given the readings, let us think of today as a challenge to be a deeper more impactful disciple of Jesus.
You have been given tools to lay hold of God’s grace already within you: (1) No expectations, (2) Move out of your comfort zone, and (3) Be flexible.
Your ministry, your work, awaits you at home, in your neighborhood, workplace, and even at the community pool.
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