Preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

1Tm 6,2c-12; Ps 48; Lk 8,1-3
20 SEPTEMBER

The mission of Jesus consisted of four essential actions: travelling, teaching, announcing and healing. He travelled the region, taught in synagogues, announced the Gospel of the kingdom, healed all sorts of diseases and infirmities among the people. Alongside these four actions addressed to all, there was the very special one of the formation of his Apostles. All these actions receive the seal of truth with his death on the Cross and with the sending of the Holy Spirit. Without death there would not have been the sending of the Holy Spirit and without the Holy Spirit his mission would be only a prophetic mission, but not a messianic one. Without the Spirit there is no new birth of the man.

He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him (Mt 4,23-25).

Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (Jn 3,3-8). The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven (is above all). He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him (Jn 3,31-36).

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may (come to) believe. For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” And again another passage says: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced” (Jn 19,31-37).

The Apostles live the same mission as Christ, but in different ways. They must go, make disciples, baptize and teach. They can do this if they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of the Lord they are not missionary souls, they are souls of the world and the Spirit cannot send to the Spirit. He is not in the missionaries.

Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28,18-20).

Another truth that springs from the mission of Jesus reveals to us that the Father has never left Christ Jesus to himself for his daily sustenance. His care is great. Jesus takes care of the things that concern the Father. The Father takes care of his body. Jesus works for the kingdom of the Father. The Father works for the things necessary for his Son.

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that we believe in the mission entrusted to us.