Out of love, God sent His Son into the world. Jesus, in turn, sent His disciples to spread God’s love, a mission that requires our cooperation to fulfill (Mk 6:7-13). The mission of the disciples is a Trinitarian mission, and the authority of the disciples is the authority of God Himself. Now, the disciples’ mission has become our mission: to trust in God’s vision in spreading divine love across the entire world.
The Gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus did not choose His disciples based on their qualifications, talents, or wealth. Instead, He empowered them with His own power to preach, cast out demons, and anoint the sick. He instructed them not to bring extra tunics, bread, or money, emphasizing their reliance on God’s providence alone. The Lord wants His disciples to have true freedom from materialism and worldly calculations so that they may be available for God’s work. Understanding the instructions of Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi prayed beautifully, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy.” Here, we realize that Jesus sent His disciples not to the perfect but to the wounded first, not to the healthy but to the sick first, not to those who considered themselves holy and pure religious but to those who acknowledge that they are possessed first, and not to those who consider themselves normally right in life, but to those who see themselves as having made wrong choices and who are in need of mercy and compassion most.
Today, Jesus continues to send us into homes, towns, and cities to share the Good News. It is an honor to be sent by Jesus, who gradually transforms us into instruments of peace and hope. We are called to stay with people in their trouble, sharing in their joys and sorrows.
Through the Church’s voluntary service and ministries, we express our love for God and our neighbors. By constantly being sent out, we deepen our understanding of God’s love by connecting with God and with those we are sent to serve. Ultimately, we are not called to work for God on His behalf but to work with God alongside Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who is with us always.
Fr. Tien Cao
