In today’s Gospel Jesus sends the Twelve Apostles to continue his mission and announce his message of the healing love and mercy of God.
“Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
The Twelve are given the same mission and message as Jesus. God the Father sent Jesus into the word to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God as we hear in the beginning of the Gospel of Mark:
“Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:14-15).
What is the Kingdom of God? The answer is given in the Our Father: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The Kingdom of God is present when God’s will is done. Jesus proclaims that this kingdom “at hand.” It is present in both Jesus’ words and actions, his teachings, his healings and his exorcisms: “But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20).
The Twelve Apostles are sent out in today’s Gospel to continue and expand Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God. They also proclaim this kingdom by their words and their deeds. Jesus gives them authority “over all demons and to cure diseases.” After being commissioned by Jesus these Twelve “set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases.”
Like these first apostles you and I through our baptism are also send out to proclaim the Kingdom of God by visiting the sick and opposing evil. Let us take Jesus’ message to heart: and put our faith and trust in God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Image: “Apostles Looking to the Coming One” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.