Gospel
of Peace
In the gospel of today, Jesus says that the harvest is
large and there are not enough people to do the necessary work. So Jesus
appointed seventy two and sent them by pair for a mission. The number seventy two was to the Jews
symbolic: it was the number of the elders who were chosen to help Moses with
the task of leading and directing the people in the wilderness (Num 11:16-17,
24, 25); furthermore, it was held to be the number of nations in the world.
In the same manner, St. Luke wants to tell us that the
mission of Jesus is the responsibility of every believer in Jesus; this is the
right and duty of every baptised person to preach the Gospel. Whatever be our
situation and status in life, whatever we are parents, teachers, employees, employers
professionals or students, we are also being sent by Christ to be missionaries
of his word of salvation.
It wrong to say that preaching the word belongs exclusively
to bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters. We can’t identify Jesus’
group as bishops, priests or laity. Whoever they were, their mission was to
proclaim the Good News about Jesus.
How are we going to do
this? Pope Paul VI said that the task of evangelization becomes now the
evangelizers, clearly he meant that by virtue of our baptism and confirmation,
we share in the mission of Christ by imitating Him and by proclaiming through
our words and our deeds.
That Good News, though, was
tough and realistic. It included the truth that Jesus didn’t come to bring
perfection to this world, and that we must not only be grateful for his
salvation but must actually share it by carrying our responsibilities. Although
we can’t offer instant solutions to all problems or suffering, Jesus’ Good News
can alone provide true peace.
One of the most beautiful
words in the English Language is “peace”. Peace isn’t merely the absence of
war; it is the work of justice and the effect of charity. With our cooperation,
God’s power can transform this world, with all its problems, into a place of
peace and justice. Prophet Isaiah also proclaims that, if people cooperate, God
will send peace flowing like a river though any landscape that is dry of it.
May all of us free of
discouragement, impatience, and anger in failure in our efforts for peace, and
be sincere, humble, and wise in seeking it; peace-seeking and peace-making are
the highest callings within civilization; in our daily lives we must reflect
non-violence as a positive force. Let us repeat constantly the beautiful words
Jesus advised: “Peace be to this household”. Peace is our greeting, and peace
is our mark. Peace is one of the signs of the presence of the kingdom. May
God’s peace be in our hearts and in our homes. Amen. Thank you.
Fr. Joseph Pham Quoc Van, O.P.
