Sent into the World
‘As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world,’ in these simple yet seismic words, lies the essence of a mission, the essence of sacrifice, and the essence of legacy. For those of us who accept them it is a call to transcendence, a mandate to change the world. It is a declaration of solidarity with the timeless rhythm of humanity's journey.
This week the Church has given us the option of reflecting on Mark 16: 15-20 (Ascension Sunday) or John 17: 11-19 (7th Sunday of Easter) surprisingly though, they are both different versions of the Great Commission - the call to go out into the world and change it by building a Kingdom of God within the existing world.
This is the stuff of epic adventure, where our ordinary lives intertwine with the extraordinary, and destinies are shaped by the currents of courage and conviction. It beckons the ‘Emmaus Traveler’ to embark upon a quest:
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This quest also requires us to embark on an inner journey of self-discovery, to navigate the uncharted territories of the soul, and to confront the shadows that lurk in the recesses of the human spirit. Each step forward becomes a testament to resilience, each obstacle a challenge to be conquered, and each victory a beacon of hope for those who journey alongside.
This week we will be exploring this call to adventure by Jesus and in his words what this call entails. As we embark on this exploration, we're invited to peel back the layers of meaning woven into each phrase, to decipher the roadmap laid out for seekers of truth and champions of righteousness.
Through the lens of his teachings, we confront the essence of this call—a summons to transcend the mundane, to embrace the unknown, and to walk the path of transformation with unwavering faith and unyielding resolve.
Jesus is commissioning us to ‘go out into the world to proclaim the gospel to the whole of creation’. Let us run together where the brave dare not to confront the wrongs and to emerge reborn in the light of divine purpose. As we journey with Jesus’ words, we unearth the treasures of wisdom, compassion, and redemption, charting a course that leads to self-discovery.
NOTICE
This call to adventure requires us to consult the timeless wisdom of scripture to examine the lives and stories of those who have gone before on epic adventures. This is what we hope to do in the Bible Reading and Study Guide Membership Program. I urge you to join the program - there are options for all to join.