Dear Parishioners and friends of the parish,

Last week’s Gospel reading narrated the sending out of the apostles two by two. And now the apostles return. They come back with so much of joy and enthusiasm. Joy, because they did as the Lord instructed them to do, enthusiasm because they could accomplish unimaginable things in the name of Jesus. Now they are eager to share their experiences with Jesus. They want to tell Jesus how joyful they felt to proclaim the Good News.

Pope Francis on the proclamation of the gospel in today’s world writes:

“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” (Evangelii Gaudium n. 1)

“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”. (EG n 3).

After having heard the apostles, He invites them to a lonely place to REST. His intention of doing this may be to calm them, give them rest, re-group or re-collect them. He wants to build on their positive experience. Pope Francis further writes: “The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.” (EG n 3).

An apostle is both ‘called’ and ‘sent’; called to be with Jesus and sent in Jesus’ name. We are called TO BE with Jesus to know him more and more, to experience Him in a deeper way and be strengthened to go out. He fills us with His joy, “so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). This joy in Christ becomes the reason to go out and proclaim the gospel of joy to others. If we do what Jesus instructs us to do and go out in His name, then we will be able to do far more greater things (cf. Jn 14:12).

“Thanks solely to this encounter – or renewed encounter – with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching friendship, we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. We become fully human when we become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being. Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization. For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?” (EG n 3).

I wish you all a blessed week. May Christ continue to pour out His joy in you and inspire you to be His witnesses wherever you go.