Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 7, 2019

In Mk 6:7-13, Jesus, after a night in prayer, selected twelve of his followers for a special mission of intimacy with himself. He gave three reasons for this mission: 1) to be with him; 2)to go out and preach the good news; and 3)to have authority to cast out demons and to heal. Then Jesus sends them out two by two and gives them authority over unclean spirits. Therefore, all their power and authority came from him and the twelve travels light. As Jesus’ ambassadors, they preached repentance. All this they did in union with Jesus and by his power because “they were with him.” Likewise, our efficacy as his disciple depends on our union with Jesus –being with him – and that requires prayer, penance and recollection. We have all been called like the Twelve to serve God in faith, hope and charity. But we should all be aware of our great dignity because we have been called to be children of God and heirs of heaven. This call should not make us proud, but very humble, because it is all God’s work, not ours. It is a gift. God is being and life, while we are nothingness and death without him. How authentic am I in following the Lord as a Christian? Shalom!