[stephenkhoo]

THE CHURCH’S MISSION BEGINS FROM WITHIN TO WITHOUT

SCRIPTURE READINGS: GN41:55-57; 42:5-7. 17-24; PS 32:2-3, 10-11, 18-19; MT 10:1-7

“These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'” Why did Jesus restrict the mission to His own people? Indeed, some scholars question whether Jesus intended that the gospel be spread beyond Palestine. How was it then that the disciples did not observe this command of Jesus? This was also an issue in the early Church regarding the admission of the Gentiles. We read in the Acts of the Apostles, the early Church was struggling as to how they should deal with gentile converts and on the other hand, the rejection of the Jews to the gospel.

Obviously, Jesus was not against reaching out to non-Jews. The case in point is the Syro-Phoenician woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter. Although Jesus initially rejected her request, yet, because of her faith and persuasive argument that even the house dogs can have the left overs from the table, He relented and healed her daughter. Of course we have other examples of Jesus reaching out to the pagans. He healed the centurion’s Servant and also performed miracles at the Decapolis region. Also, at the end of the gospel, which was written in the light of the resurrection and reflecting the practice of the early Church, all the evangelists recorded Jesus commissioning the Twelve to preach the gospel to all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Holy Trinity. St Mark even spoke of the signs that accompanied the preaching, which was written as a post resurrection narrative. This commissioning came only after they encountered the Risen Christ and had received the Holy Spirit, the love and power of God in person. So it is clear that in the mind of the early Church the gospel is be proclaimed to all of creation, not just to the Jews, but it presupposes a Christ-encounter.

How, then, do we understand Jesus’ command, as it seems that the disciples were acting contrary to Jesus’ instructions? The context and intention of Jesus commanding them not to go out of Palestine was because in the plan of God, the Good News was meant to be given to the Jews first, as the chosen people of God, and from them to the world. Hence, before sending them out to the world, Jesus wanted to evangelize His own people. This principle still holds even for the Church today. Before evangelizing the world we must first begin by evangelizing ourselves. This is why the Year of Faith was proclaimed in the context of the synod on the New Evangelization. Unless Catholics are first evangelized, they cannot proclaim Christ to the world.

What does it mean to re-evangelize our people? How is this mission to be carried out? The gospel says, “And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” How is this done? By proclaiming the Kingdom of God, not in words but in actions. Proclamation of the gospel is not primarily the teaching of doctrines but to give people a personal encounter with Christ in a concrete way. The Good News is more than words but primarily works. The disciples were instructed to heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits.

Yesterday, we read in the gospel how Jesus went about healing the sick, casting out evil spirits and feeding the hungry besides teaching them. The Good News is basically the love and compassion of God made real today. Regardless, teaching without accompanying actions will not suffice. That is why St Francis of Assisi told his disciples to preach the gospel and, only if necessary, use words. People encounter God in their daily lives in events like the psalmist who prays “May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you. The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.”

Above all, what is even more important is the work of reconciliation in the proclamation of the Good News, reconciling men with each other and with God. The gospel at the end of the day is the gospel of reconciliation. This is what St Paul wrote as well. More than anything we need to reconcile man with God so that man is reconciled within himself, leading to his reconciliation with his fellowmen. All miracles seek to express and lead men to this reconciliation. Similarly, Joseph in the first reading shows God’s love by forgiving and reconciling with his brothers.

Does it mean that the mission to the world is not necessary? Of course not! Once we are evangelized, we will desire to share the Good News with the whole world. Only because Joseph received God’s blessings could he share his blessings with the pagans. Once we have received God’s love, we can then reach out to others in love. In conclusion, we are called to renew, to re-appropriate and to rediscover our faith so that we encounter His love, which in turn will propel us to proclaim His love to the world. In the work of the New Evangelization, the priority is to renew the faith of our Catholics.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh