“So they went off and preached repentance.”
The Gospel for this, the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, is all about mission! Jesus calls together the Apostles and sends them out in groups of two to preach and to heal. He gives very specific instructions on what they can bring, saying "take nothing but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts." And we are told "So they went off and preached repentance."
What is of particular relevance here is that the Twelve are not men you would expect to be sent off to preach. They are not necessarily well educated in the Jewish faith. There are fishermen, a tax collector, and various other professions; they are men well trained in their own fields, but not in preaching. This mirrors the story of the prophet Amos in the first reading where he says, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”
Despite their possible lack of "book knowledge" of the faith, the Twelve's message was of repentance, of turning away from sin and turning back to God. This message isn't one that requires profound knowledge or eloquent speech. It is a message that comes from life experience... from experiencing mercy in their own lives... from the heart.
So, this week, as we go about our lives and are given opportunities to proclaim the Gospel and to preach repentance, take courage! While one may not know the faith as well as they think they should, God's grace will work. Not every knows the theological intricacies of Christianity... but everyone knows the reality of failure, especially when it involves bad decisions that hurt others. This is where the Good News of Jesus Christ is so life-giving and life-changing - for Jesus shows us that God is compassionate and merciful and is always willing meet us where we are when we are willing to admit our faults and repent.
Want to read the readings from this Sunday's Mass? Click here to find them.