CN_14_Thuong_Nien14 Sunday of the Year C

Is 16:10-14c; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:11-12, 17-20

Introduction: This is a homily/Scripture reflection in a book, titled: ‘Every Week God Speaks We Respond’, Cycle B, intended to be published in the future by Reverend John Tran Binh Trong.

It was published in Vietnamese in the US 2008 and republished in Viet Nam 2011. To keep the author’s writing style, this homily has not been edited and may not be by a hired hand. However, if readers would like to point out mistake(s) in spelling and grammar and/or to suggest English phrases and expressions, it would be greatly appreciated by the author, whose English is not his mother tongue and who did not live in the US until his adulthood. Passive sentences are used intentionally in this context as to avoid using the first personal pronoun ‘I’ when applicable. That might be associated with any idea of egotism, in accord with the French saying, known as: ‘Le moi est haissable’ (The ego is detestable).

A disciple is a student or a follower of a particular teacher to learn about a certain subject like religion, literature, martial exercises or a profession. In the Old Testament, those followers of the Jewish rabbi were called disciples. In the New Testament, those followers of Jesus’ teaching were also called disciples. The term disciple was mentioned 250 times [1] in the New Testament. Among the disciples of Jesus, there were twelve close followers called apostles (Mt 12:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:13-16; Acts 1:13).

The gospel of today tells us: Jesus appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit (Mk 10:1). He instructed them: Carry no moneybag, no sack, and no sandals and greet no one along the way (Mk 10:4). If we interpret Jesus’ instructions literally, then most of the modern missionaries are missing the point, because they might carry two or three suitcases of clothes and belongings, with money and even a visa or a master card.

Jesus’ instructions in today’s gospel are also different from the instructions recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke concerning missionaries’ belongings (Mt 10:5:15; Mk 6:8-12). The reason for the differences in carrying baggage may be due to the differences in the evangelist’s emphasis on different points in the teachings of Jesus. Thus, this evangelist might have emphasized this point. That evangelist might have done that point. This point tells us it is not necessary to interpret Jesus’ instructions literally. Therefore, we need scripture scholars to help us understand Jesus’ instructions on how to travel on missionary journeys. We also rely on the church to interpret the scripture because the Church was entrusted with the mission of safeguarding God’s word from being misinterpreted. Thus, details of what to bring for missionary journeys are not as important as the message of the Gospel.

What Jesus tells them is they are to bring basic things only. Basic things at that time in Palestine were different from basic things in our time of the modern world. In addition, basic things in rich countries are different from basic things in poor countries.

In a stricter sense of the word, the clergy are considered as the laborers, but in a broader sense of the word, every Christian must be a laborer of God's harvest. Through baptism, we are called to faith. Through confirmation, we are called to bear witness to the life of faith. The life of a Christian must be a reflection of faith and witness to his/her faith. Jesus’ word today tells us about the urgency of the apostolic work: The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest (Lk 10:2).

 Since the Second Vatican Council, many Catholic men and women have been aware of their calling to do the lay apostolic work. Many Catholic men and women have been studying the Bible and religious subjects. They have been enriching their faith lives and spiritual values. Some of them are holding graduate degrees in theology and scripture, liturgy and spirituality. These academic degrees were used to reserve for                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   priests only. Nowadays with the shortage of priests, the role of the laity is becoming more evident and important to spread the gospel message. Every Christian must proclaim the Gospel of salvation not only by words but also by actions, prayers and good examples.

A prayer for knowing how to do lay apostolic works:

Oh Jesus the High Priest!

Grant that we may be aware that through baptism

we are called to ‘share in the priestly, prophetic and royal office of Christ’ [2]

With the ordained ministers, we do apostolic works,

and offer to God the gift of thanks, sacrifice and atonement of sins

for ourselves and for the humankind. Amen.

John Tran Binh Trong

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[1]. McKinzie, J. L. Dictionary of the Bible. Milwalkee. The Bruce Publishing Company, 1965. p. 199.

[2]. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, # 2

Hằng tuần Chúa Nói Ta Đáp, Năm A đã được xuất bản tại Hoa Kì và được xuất bản lần 2 tại Việt Nam. Lời giới thiệu về sách được ghi ở Mục: Sách của Tác giả trang chủ cuối cột 1 ___________________

Every Week God Speaks – We Respond, Cycle A was published Online in the US. The introduction of the book is recorded at “Sách của Tác giả Chủ trương, Column 1.

Hằng tuần Chúa Nói Ta Đáp, Năm B đã được xuất bản tại Hoa Kì và được xuất bản lần 2 tại Việt Nam. Lời giới thiệu về sách được ghi ở Mục: Sách của Tác giả trang chủ cuối cột 1

  Hằng tuần Chúa Nói Ta Đáp, Năm C đã được xuất bản tại Hoa Kì và được xuất bản lần 2 tại Việt Nam. Lời giới thiệu về sách được ghi ở Mục: Sách của Tác giả trang chủ, cuối cột 1.

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 Năm Mục Vụ Giới Trẻ 2021.  HĐGM ấn định một chương trình Mục vụ Giới trẻ 3 năm với các chủ đề tương ứng: Năm 2020: Đồng hành với người trẻ hướng tới sự trưởng thành toàn diện.

Năm 2021: Đồng hành với người trẻ trong đời sống gia đình. Để hiểu ý nghĩa và thực hành, xin nhấn vào đường dẫn này:

https://giaophannhatrang.org/vi/news/muc-vu-gioi-tre/cong-bo-logo-nam-muc-vu-gioi-tre-2021-20614.html

Năm 2022: Đồng hành với người trẻ trong đời sống Giáo hội và xã hội.

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Năm Thánh Giu-se: Nhân kỷ niệm 150 năm Đức Giáo hoàng Pio IX chọn thánh Giuse làm Đấng Bảo Trợ Giáo Hội Công Giáo, Đức Phanxicô đã ban hành Tông thư “Patris corde” – Trái tim của người Cha – và công bố “Năm đặc biệt về thánh Giuse” từ ngày 8/12/2020 đến ngày 8/12/2021. Để biết thêm ý nghĩa và áp dụng vào hoàn cảnh VN, xin nhấn vào đường dẫn này:

https://tgpsaigon.net/bai-viet/nam-thanh-giuse-nhung-dieu-nguoi-cong-giao-can-biet-61799

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Năm “Gia đình Amoris Laetitia” 2021 về “Vẻ đẹp và niềm vui của tình yêu gia đình” do Bộ Giáo Dân, Gia Đình và Sự Sống tổ chức, được Đức Phanxicô khai mạc dịp Lễ Thánh Giuse 19/ 3/ 2021 và bế mạc ngày 26/6/2022 trong dịp Hội Ngộ Thế Giới các Gia Đình lần thứ 10 diễn ra tại Roma. Để biết thêm ý nghĩa và áp dụng, xin nhấn vào đường dẫn này:

https://tgpsaigon.net/bai-viet/nam-gia-dinh-amoris-laetitia-muc-tieu-va-sang-kien-62928

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Hình ảnh giải trí.

 

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