July 10: The Way / El Camino

In Mark 10, 17 – 27, a disappointed young man walked away from Jesus when He told him what he needed to do to follow His “way” – surrender, learn to rely solely on God, and then get rid of whatever was “in the way.”  
Jesus is the fullest revelation of God’s unfailing love for us. But He experienced the refusal of many people to even hear let alone heed His message. When He sent out His disciples, He warned them to expect the same. They were to proclaim the Good News, the message of God’s life-giving love, but be aware that many would not welcome them or listen to what they had to say.

Negative responses must not deter us from our mission. Certainly they did not deter Jesus. When He suffered the ultimate rejection of execution on the Cross, He still proclaimed the same Good News when He said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” We are to reveal the loving presence of God, regardless of how we are received by others.

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In a world that prizes success, power, and self-sufficiency, the Gospel reminds us of the true road to sanctity: humility, simplicity, love, and most of all, childlike trust. “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18, 3-4)

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En el Evangelio de San Mateo, 10, 7-15, Jesús envía a sus doce Apóstoles a anunciar el Reino de los Cielos. Tienen que estar desprendidos de posesiones, e incluso de gente, de sus propios familiares. Tienen que ser pobres también en el sentido de que deben aceptar la inseguridad de no ser bien recibidos. Quizás podríamos retener hoy estas palabras de Jesús: “Gratis lo recibieron, denlo gratis” – nuestro amor, nuestro servicio, y nuestra entrega.