Jesus was keenly aware of being sent by His Father to minister to the world. In John's Gospel, Jesus refers to Himself as being sent by the Father no less than thirty-eight times! He repeatedly emphasizes that we must believe that the Father sent Him (see Jn 17:21). The Father and Jesus continually testify that Jesus was sent by the Father (Jn 5:36). Jesus even tells His disciples that the Father loves them because they believed that He was sent by God (Jn 16:27).
We disciples imitate Jesus. To be like Jesus, we must always be aware that we are sent by the Father. It's critical for us to see ourselves as being sent. Instead of identifying ourselves as a mailman, foreman, librarian, or housewife, we should imitate Jesus and the apostles by identifying ourselves as being sent by the Lord (see Jn 10:36; 2 Tm 1:1; Ti 1:1).
Jesus tells us: "As the Father has sent Me, so I send you" (Jn 20:21). At each Mass (a word which means "sent"), we are sent forth to "go and announce the Gospel of the Lord." Thus, we are sent forth by the Lord from Mass to minister to the world (Jn 17:18). Jesus tells us: "Remember: I am sending you" (Lk 10:3). "Go out now and take your place" (Acts 5:20).
| PRAYER: | Father, I hear Your voice saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go?" (Is 6:8) "Here I am...send me!" (Is 6:8) |
| PROMISE: | "These very works which I perform testify on My behalf that the Father has sent Me." –Jn 5:36 |
| PRAISE: | Mary visited her fellow parishioner Carol in the hospital and prayed with her. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College