The readings for this Sunday focus on God calling each one of us to be a missionary disciple.  In the second reading, St Paul shares about God’s plan of salvation for the world with the eventual goal to “bring everything under Christ as head”.  To achieve this, Jesus gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”  How are we living up to this command?  Some of us are fearful to share the Good News with others because of various reasons such as the lack of faith, lack of knowledge, no time and fear of rejection. The other readings give us suggestions as to how we can discover how we can be missionary disciples.

In the first reading, we see how Amos was not a prophet by profession but was called by God to deliver a message to the people of Israel, to remind them of what would happen to them if they did not change from their unjust ways. Despite facing opposition and rejection, Amos responded wholeheartedly and remained faithful to his calling, was willing to speak the truth even when it was unpopular and had trusted in God’s guidance and provision.

In the Gospel passage, we see Jesus sending the apostles out on a mission, instructing them to travel light, relying solely on the hospitality of others and the power of God working through them.  Basically, Jesus wanted the apostles to learn to trust in His divine providence for their needs, not to be distracted by worldly possessions, and to step out in faith, trusting in the power and authority of God in their apostolic mission.

As we journey in our faith, let us pray for the courage to heed God’s call to participate in His mission, to trust in His divine providence and the humility to rely on His strength. May we, like Amos and the apostles, be empowered by the Holy Spirit and take the first step to bear witness, in words and deeds, to the Good News in our homes, in our workplaces and in the community. This can be as simple as sharing with others how the Lord has helped us in our difficulties, healed us of our illness and answered our prayers.

Written by: Simon Chua