HOMILY WEEK 02 05 – Year II
Sent to Proclaim Mercy and Heal:
Memorial of St. Agnes
(1 Sam 24:2-21; Ps 57; Mk 3:13-19)
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Do you see yourself as an apostle?
The readings today call us to an apostolic mission of proclaiming the Good News of God’s mercy, and to a healing ministry.
The gospel is all about the call of the apostles. That Jesus did this on a mountain underlines the importance of this event. The chosen people of God became a nation through the Mosaic covenant on Mt. Sinai, and were then divided into twelve tribes as they settled in the promised land. This naming of the twelve apostles was a new Mt. Sinai, signifying the fulfillment of Israel, a people of God who would be faithful to the new covenant that would be established through the sacrifice of the new Lamb of God on the Cross.
The fact that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter underlines the special role that Peter would play. Then, of all things, in the midst of this solemnity, Jesus injects a little humour by giving James and John nicknames – Sons of Thunder. Nicknames can be descriptive and humorous, but also show closeness and affection. Jesus may have given them this name because of their zeal for the kingdom or he may have been referring to their quick temper (Lk 9:54). Either way, we can see, both in these verses and throughout the gospels, that Jesus had a great deal of affection for these two brothers. He knew them well and loved them completely, warts and all. And so, he made them apostolos, which means sent out or commissioned.
Jesus knows us fully too. He sees our strengths and love for him along with our weaknesses and shortcomings. But he also sees how our checkered attributes might bear fruit for the kingdom of God. And above all else, he loves us unconditionally. So, we might wonder what nickname Jesus would give to us, as he calls us to ministry by our baptism, and by our desire to follow him.
It is important to note Jesus calls these apostles “to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons.” This constitutes a three-fold mission that is also our mission: to be with Jesus, to proclaim and to heal.
We can best be with Jesus through contemplative prayer, spending time with him, communing with him as he communed with the Father, growing in an intimate relationship with him as our best friend. The relationship that we have with Jesus is the relationship that we will have with the Father. The practice of Lectio Divina will foster that relationship: lectio – reading God’s word; meditatio – meditating on that word, asking ourselves what God is communicating to us through that word; oratio – praying with the Word for the needs of the world and our needs, and finally, contemplatio – putting all thoughts and feelings aside, and just being present to Jesus, soaking up his love as did Mary of Bethany.
Then, having spent time with Jesus in prayer, we are ready to go out to proclaim the message. The first reading suggests the core of that message is the good news of the mercy of God. David has an opportunity to rid himself of his enemy, King Saul who unjustly and out of jealousy is seeking to kill David. Instead, David uses that opportunity to show mercy to Saul, spares his life, and seeks to be reconciled with him instead. And once again, that leads to repentance on the part of Saul, and this time, the prediction that David will be king of Israel.
Pope Francis is very much focused on mercy as the core of God’s love for us. As he puts it, God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who neglect to come to God for that mercy. God knows us through and through, our qualities and our shortcomings, and loves us unconditionally regardless, and perhaps even more so because of them, for then he can forgive us and love us even more. Recall the woman in the gospel about whom Jesus said, “She must have been forgiven much to be showing so much love.” Within God’s merciful hands, we can’t lose – God will always turn everything to the good for those who love him. So, our message can be all about God’s merciful love.
The last part of that apostolic commission is to deliver and to heal. Jesus gave them, and gives us, authority to cast out demons. That involves a healing ministry – helping people be aware of their need for healing and deliverance, and praying with them that they will experience that healing of their painful emotions, negative attitudes and even their addictions.
This coincides with the two-fold mission of Jesus himself as the Messiah: to redeem and to sanctify; to forgive and to heal. We need forgiveness for our sinful actions, but also healing for our sinfulness, that which made us sin in the first place. And that leads to transformation, change, growth – we are in a new place, more able to enjoy the peace and joy that only Jesus can give.
St. Agnes
Today, we honor St. Agnes, a feast that has been celebrated on this day since the 4th century. Little is known about her. She was likely born in the early years of the 4th century, and was martyred at the age of 12 during a Roman persecution. She is a symbol of virginal innocence and has been pictured with a lamb as a symbol of this innocence since the Middle Ages. She can also teach us a lot about the values of purity and chastity, so overshadowed by unbridled lust and sexuality in our present-day society. She stands as a patron saint for many people, including girls, gardeners and engaged couples.
The Eucharist is one of the best ways we can “be with Jesus” as we listen to and ponder his word, and commune intimately with him by receiving his body and blood. It also empowers us to be apostles, mandating us to go out to proclaim God’s mercy and practice a healing ministry.
