Speed for Life

14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 7, 2013

Luke 10:1-12.17-20

“Announce The Kingdom is at hand (Luk 10:9).”

Human life is marked steady and measured growth and development. Normally, it takes years for a little kid to grow physically, intellectually and emotionally, and to face an adult world. In my case, I need to undergo more than 10 years formation inside the seminary before I will be allowed to become a priest.

However, life also demands speed and promptness. Every day, billions cells in our body is multiplying while other billions are damaged and die. Red blood cells, ones that carry oxygen and practically sustain our life, only have 120-day life cycle. Not only in cellular world, swiftness is also necessary in human world. Everyday day, countless doctors are obliged to make a split-second medical decision that would determine the lives of their patients. One or two seconds late means death. We need speed to save others!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus commenced not only massive but also swift operation. He sent not only twelve apostles, but seventy other disciples with strict instructions. “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way (Luk 10:4) and announce The Kingdom is at hand (Luk 10:9).” We feel the sense of urgency in Jesus’ commands and He expected no less than a positive and efficient result. Indeed, it was a successful mission as the disciples returned overjoyed (Luk 10:17).  

Here, we see the other side of Jesus. Often, Jesus is depicted as someone who is calm, cool and takes his time. He did not even wake up when the storm hit the boat (Mat8:24)! Yet, this time, he manifested the sense of promptness and the value of time. He was aware that sending the disciples in such fashion was enormously risky, like “sending the sheep among the wolves”. They might face hunger, violent rejection, and total failure. Yet, Jesus insisted because preaching the Kingdom is preaching life, and life also demands speed and promptness.

Every day, thousand babies are aborted, enormous number of young women fall victims of human trafficking and prostitution, millions suffer in conflict-torn areas. Tablet, the International Catholic weekly on June 8, reported that 2 million children die out of hunger every year. Last June 8, Pope Francis shared an intimate moment with 200,000 people telling them, “Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don’t have food – that’s not news. This is grave. We can’t rest easy while things are this way.” This is the reason why Jesus went beyond His ordinary calmness and ordered us to move fast and efficiently. Life is at stake every day, and if we want to follow Christ to preach the Kingdom, we need to get involve with this life (and death) of others in more significant ways. So, are you going to just sit there, read this reflection and feel blessed or do something more meaningful for others? Will you?

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP