Just as the Father Sent Me"

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s readings tell us much the Christian community immediately following the resurrection. First, the gospel reading gives us a picture of the role of the risen Christ in the post resurrection community. In the various resurrection appearances, Jesus was not merely giving a demonstration of his new status as the risen Lord. Rather, Jesus, just as before his death, was engaged in the task of building up his community of disciples. In today’s first gospel, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Just as the Father sent me, so I send you.” He gives them a purpose to live. What is the purpose? What he was while he was human in their midst, now they must be to others. “Just as the Father sent me…” How and for what did the Father send Jesus? The Father sent Jesus, as a simple man, and yet with an incredible mission. This mission required uncompromising commitment because it was a difficult mission. Jesus worked miracles with the power of God, raised the dead to life and preached forgiveness of sins, and proclaimed a life of love. Now he says to them, “Just as the Father sent me, so I send you.” In other words, they must be other Jesus’ in the world. From one Jesus to twelve of him.

From the first and the second reading we know that what Jesus sent the disciples out to do, they did. In fact the ministry of the disciples sounds so similar to the account of the ministry of Jesus. The result of the disciples taking the mission given by Christ seriously is seen the first reading. As the Acts of the Apostles tells us, “... every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

What Jesus said to them, he now says to us. Just as he breathed on his disciples, he and give them his new life, he now gives us not just his breath, but his body and blood. We are a new creation. And just as he sent them he now send us.

Imagine, what would happen if we did take this mission seriously. One man Jesus began this mission of salvation. Twelve men spread that message. Imagine what the world would be like if the two billion Christians in today’s world took the mission of Jesus seriously.

- Fr. Satish Joseph