15th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

July 11, 2021

Mark 6:7-13

In today’s Gospel, Jesus called His disciples so that He may send them. Jesus commissioned them with threefold tasks: to drive out unclean spirits, preach repentance, and heal the sick with the anointing of the oil. Why did Jesus instruct these three missions? Jesus knew well that He dispatched the disciples not simply to teach faith or do some charitable services. Their real mission was to wage war against the real enemies of the kingdom of God: the kingdom of evil. To do this humanly impossible task, Jesus had entrusted them with divine authority over the demons and other fallen angels. Their mission was to destroy evil forces and win back people who lived under the influence of darkness. In short: the disciples were to win to souls.

When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He has definitively won the war against the kingdom of Satan, and He has decisively destroyed its leading forces. However, the battles and skirmishes were raging on. The devil and cohorts continued to assault humanity and tried to reclaim the souls that have been consecrated to God. Thus, Jesus made the mission of His disciples something lasting until He comes again. As He commissioned the Twelve, he also sends His disciples to continue the faith and win more souls for Christ.

Then, how do we live up to this call of Jesus? Do we need to precisely imitate the apostles like we need to fight demons head-on and exorcise the demoniacs? Do we have to go around and start anointing the sick people with oil? Must we preach repentance at every corner of the streets? The answer is yes and no. Some of us, indeed, heal the people by anointing with oil. These people are called priests. Some of us have a special charism to expel demons. Some of us have the gift that empowers them to preach repentance and bring people into tears.

However, there is one universal way to do this mission against the kingdom of darkness. It is to reject Satan and His works in our lives and societies. The first and real battle is within us, within our families, and then our communities. We reject those activities that related to occultism and superstitious beliefs. We also refuse to participate in evil and corrupt activities in our workplaces and societies. At least, we know that there is one soul we save, that is, our souls and the souls of our family.

When I become a priest, one mission entrusted to me is to give the sacrament of holy anointing for the sick. Among other sacraments, I find the most fulfilment in this sacrament. Through this sacrament, I am sure that I have participated in God’s saving work to bring this soul to heaven. However, in this pandemic, I realize that I cannot do much for our parishioners who are in critical condition due to covid-19. I wish I could do more, and the reality hurts. Yet, it does not mean we are hopeless. This is when we storm heaven with prayers and fasting for the salvation of souls, and we must not allow the power of darkness to take their chances.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP