15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.

Mk 6:7-13

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

Twelve Apostles

Twelve because they remind us of the 12 Tribes of Israel. They form the People of God in the OT. In the NT the 12 Apostles will be the instrument of Jesus to form the New People of God. If the Jews had accepted Jesus, there would have been no need to form the New People of God.

Apostles mean sent. They were sent on a mission under the authority of Jesus. Did God send Mananalo on a mission? Or did he send himself? Did God send Soriano on a mission? Or did he send himself? The same question is true of Villanueva, Quiboloy etc.

Why walking stick and sandals? Why no food, no sack, no money?

Because like Jesus they have to move from place to place to proclaim the good news. They will have to travel light. They will rely on the hospitality of the people.

The worker deserves his pay. Christian community must support their pastors.

"Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.” 

If people will not accept the Good News, don't waste your time on them. Go to other towns who did not yet have the Good News preached to them.

When Jews from the diaspora returns to the Promised Land for a pilgrimaget to Jerusalem, They would shake the dust off their sandals. It was a sign of the separation of the unclean from the holy. So if a town refuses to have faith, then they are cut off from salvation.

They anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

This is not only for those who are about to die. This is for those who have serious illness or who will undergo a delicate surgery. How do you know that the illness is serious or that the surgery is delicate?
Ask the doctor. 

Before surgery for aneurism, a friend of ours requested and was given the anointing.

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two to preach repentance.

What does it mean to repent? The lyrics of the song "Anak" describes beautifully what repentance is.

At ang una mong nilapitan
Ang iyong inang lumuluha
At ang tanong,"anak, ba't ka nagkaganyan"
At ang iyong mga mata'y biglang lumuha ng di mo napapansin
Nagsisisi at sa isip mo'y
Nalaman mong ika'y nagkamali.

It is in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) that God celebrates the coming home and the welcoming of the repentant sinner.