FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2020
(Part 83)
CALLED TO BE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS – 2
October 21, 2020
Today’s readings:
Ephesians 3:2-12
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 12:39-48
Paul speaks about his “insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Eph 3:4-5). Jesus sent his Spirit to his disciples, and the Spirit in turn revealed the workings of God to His people, and raised apostles and prophets. Apostles are those who are sent while prophets are those who speak in the name of God. Like Paul, we too are sent in order to speak.
The commission to Paul was, as he says, “the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit.” (Eph 3:2). God raises up apostles and prophets in order to serve and minister to His people. And what is the basic message or plan for people? It is “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Eph 3:6). Thus, like Paul, we are called “to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8b).
Thus, what apostles and prophets are about is “the eternal purpose that (God) accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:11). Our commission is intended to fulfill the eternal purpose of God. Thus God calls, sends and equips us. Thus “we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.” (Eph 3:12). If our work is the most important divine work of God, the very work of Jesus, and if we are sent by God Himself, then our posture must be: “God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid. For the Lord is my strength and my might, and he has been my salvation.” (Is 12:2).
This is why we must be driven in this work. We must desire to do rapid, massive and worldwide evangelization. We go to the ends of the earth. “Among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. Sing praise to the Lord for he has done glorious things; let this be known throughout all the earth.” (Is 12:4b-5).
This work is urgent. People must be ready for when Jesus returns once again. “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Lk 12:40). How can people be ready? When the good news of salvation is proclaimed to them. And who does this proclaiming? Apostles and prophets. People like us in MFC. This is how we serve God. This is doing God’s will. And “blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.” (Lk 12:43).
In today’s gospel we find three types of servants. One are those who are ignorant of God’s will (Lk 12:48a).1 Another are those who know but do not act on God’s will (Lk 12:47). A third are those who are entrusted with much (Lk 12:48b). We in MFC, with all our teachings and formation, with the fullness of our vision and mission, know what is God’s will, especially in the area of evangelization. And we do know that if we are to be built on the Rock that is Christ, we must not only know but also act on Jesus’ words.
Finally, we have been entrusted with much. Just like Paul, “the mystery was made known to (us) by revelation” (Eph 3:3),2 and we “became a minster by the gift of God’s grace that was granted (us) in accord with the exercise of his power” (Eph 3:7), and we have been called “to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.” (Eph 3:9-10). Such is awesome work, reaching not only to the ends of the earth, throughout the whole Church, but also to the heavens.
We are built on the Rock that is Christ. We listen to and act on his words. Not to do so is to invite a severe beating from our Master (Lk 12:47). We are called to be apostles and prophets. We proclaim God’s salvation to all. Much has been given to us in MFC. And “much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Lk 12:48b).
Let us rejoice in the task and ministry given us by God. “Shout with exultation, City of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!” (Is 12:6).
1 Unfortunately, today many lay Catholics do not know what is God’s will. How many lay Catholics, for example, know that they are commissioned to be proclaimers of the gospel?
2 God revealed the mystery directly to Paul, while for us, it is revealed through human teachers and instruments of God.
