Homily: Thursday of the 4th Week of OT 2016 - Two by two

Today’s scripture readings seem to be about instructions, trust, obedience, and faith.

In the reading from 1 Kings, David, who we’ve been following since he was a ruddy youth, is dying and giving instructions for the building of the kingdom to his son Solomon, who will inherit the throne.

In the passage from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus, too gives the disciples very specific instructions, for the building of the kingdom.  He then sends them out into the world where they are to preach repentance, heal the sick, and drive out demons.

But the instructions are more detailed.  Jesus tells them to go two by two.  Why two-by-two?  I remember my first year in seminary.  Every seminarian is given an apostolate, sent out into the world to bring the good news: some seminarians went to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, schools to teach.  My first year, I was sent, with another seminarian, two by two, to the Cuyahoga county jail.  We were to learn about and practice jail chaplaincy.  It would have been easy to get discouraged.  But having another seminarian along, we were able to challenge each other to do better, to encourage each other when things got scary, or strange, remind each other about the teaching of the Master, encourage each other to treat those whom we met with charity and patience, correct each other when we might be tempted to take the credit when something good or miraculous would happen. 

So Jesus sends them out two by two.  He also gives them instructions on what to take.  A stick and shoes.  There is freedom in simplicity.  When all you have is a walking stick and sandals, boy you learn about trust and obedience.  On that first apostolate, I learned, that when you are out in the field, you have nothing but your knowledge of the faith, your love of Jesus, your hope in the kingdom, and the help of God.  The apostolate really gave us seminarians motivation to study and pray.  If you didn’t know the faith, and if you didn’t know Jesus, if you weren’t motivated by true love, the people would see right through you. 

Jesus tells the disciples to preach repentance, heal the sick, and drive out demons.  It didn’t take many hours in the jail to realize that demons actually existed: demons named addiction, greed, violence, rape, cruelty, racism.  You also don’t have to go that far to realize that people are in need of tremendous healing: many criminals have been victimized in some way, by their parents, by their peers, and they have such a desire to learn that they are forgiven by God for their sins, if they but turn to him. 

There is hunger and need for the Gospel out there.  And Jesus sends us his disciples into the world.  It is not just the work of bishops, priests, and deacons.  Sometimes we need to stop and reflect on whether we are being faithful to the instructions we have been given, faithful to the mission we have promised to fulfill, and to remember that the Lord has given us abundant grace to complete his mission on earth, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.