In today’s Gospel Jesus sends out the Twelve to preach the Gospel. They are to “to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Their message and ministry are the exact same as Jesus’ message and ministry: “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15). As we hear in today’s Gospel Jesus gives “power and authority” to the Twelve to cure and to cast out demons. Their mission follows Jesus’ mission of welcoming the outcast and the sinner. They are to repeat Jesus’ invitation to those who are downtrodden and burdened with sin and guilt:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
The kingdom of God is both present and future. Jesus declares that the “kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15) or as he proclaims in his programmatic address in his hometown synagogue: “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” The scripture passage he has just read is Isaiah 61:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-21).
The kingdom of God is not just something that occurs in the future, when we get to heaven. The kingdom of God is already present or at hand when Jesus heals the sick, bring good news to the poor and release to those who are burdened, and heals the blind. Jesus sends Twelve out on mission to continue to his work of healing and release. When Jesus works through them the kingdom of God is at hand.
We live today both in the present and in the future. The kingdom of God is at hand when we allow Jesus to work through us to bring about healing and release. We also live and “blessed hope” and expectation for the future coming of Jesus as we hear in the prayer said after the Our Father at mass.
“Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Image: “Jesus blesses the Apostolic College” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.