"Apostles" As Sent-Ones Deep Into God's Heart

F

irst point: In the Gospel (Mark 6:7-13), Jesus commissions the Twelve which marks the beginning of their active participation in Jesus' ministries, namely, preaching repentance, driving out demons, anointing the sick, and healing them (Mark 6:12-13). Like us, the Twelve Apostles similarly underwent a program to prepare them before they could be called Apostles. To do this they formed as a band of men different from the rest of the Galileans. Thus it can be said that they lived like, what came to be called, a kibbutz community. Kibbutz is the Hebrew word for gathering. Jesus together with his apostles became the first kibbutz in Israel, an intentional settlement to live in common, all their wealth is held in common, and they are provided with the same food, clothing, and shelter. In the Gospel today we witness the way the Twelve learned Jesus's lifestyle, namely, a minimalist lifestyle. It is a crucial step if one would like to follow as a worthy apostle of Jesus.

He instructs the Twelve, "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt" (Mk 6:8-9). There is a Netflix documentary featuring Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who are known as "The Minimalists." Like Jesus, Joshua and Ryan call for a simple, minimalist lifestyle. They discuss their journeys from being materialistic and cluttered to living with less. The overarching message of the documentary is that "less is more"—a more fulfilling life focuses on relationships, personal growth, and experiences rather than material possessions. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" (Mt 6:24).

So this is the first journey an apostle takes, a personal conversion that consists of breaking away from a materialistic or worldly lifestyle. It is a dying to oneself. This is consistent with the call of Jesus in other gospel accounts. In Luke 9:62, we hear Jesus say, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God"; and in Matthew 10:37-39, "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me..."

Second point: From an internal breaking away, the Twelve Disciples move farther away from breaking personal comfort zones into breaking cultural boundaries. It is a movement from the self to the other. The newly gathered disciples are asked to go to all towns and not just to the Jewish regions. We know that Jews and Gentiles do not socialize. The Jews, when returning from Gentile (non-Jewish) lands, would shake the dust off their feet to avoid bringing unclean elements into Israel. Jesus instructs them to break away from this anti-social mindset. It is like pouring new wine into new wineskins. They will go to the Gentile towns with a more inclusive attitude. The new basis for spiritual purity and righteousness is now the acceptance or rejection of the Gospel and not adherence to traditional Jewish law. There are just two universal standards for all peoples: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan. We see this standard in the Lukan Beatitudes that challenge conventional views of happiness and success by highlighting the virtues that are truly blessed in God's eyes. The corresponding woes remind us to break away from the dangers of wealth, comfort, and human approval.

Third and last point: The culmination of an apostle's journey is a journey into God's heart. The destination is not merely physical or geographical but deeply spiritual and relational. True detachment leads a person's heart closer to the heart of God in intimacy. This can only be done with grace or divine action. They were missioned two by two to indicate that apostleship means intimacy and companionship with the Lord, journeying with, in, and through Him. That is why Jesus said, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Mt 18:20).

My dear sisters and brothers, every retreat is a journey of the three stages, from the self and outside of the self and ultimately to the heart of God. Fr JM Manzano SJ

When it’s all been said and done,

there is just one thing that matters

Did I do my best to live for truth?

Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done

All my treasures will mean nothing

Only what I've done for love's reward

Will stand the test of time

Lord Your mercy is so great

That You look beyond our weakness

And find purest gold in miry clay

Making sinners into saints

I will always sing Your praise

Here on earth and ever after

For You've shown me Heaven's my true home

When it's all been said and done

You're my life when life is gone

Lord I'll live my life for You

(Don Moen)