Two by Two
Ever since I saw the movie ‘The Big Year’ with Jack Black and Owen Wilson, I have become an amateur bird watcher. One pair of birds that fascinates Sandee and me is what is known locally as the ‘Parson Bird’. It is given that name because the male is black with a brilliant white streak under his wing that flashes when it flies, resembling a parson (priest) with a white collar and black vestments.
He has a beautiful female partner in a rich reddish brown. They are never far from each other. When you see one, you just have to look around and there she will be. He ensures she is well fed, even going so far as to prepare and guard pieces of banana we place on our bird feeder, from other birds. When I read this week’s Gospel Mark 6: 7-13 ‘Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two’ I thought of the parson bird and his partner.
There are practical benefits in paired ministry. In pairs, the disciples could support and encourage each other during their mission, sharing the emotional and spiritual challenges. And according to Jewish law, the testimony of two witnesses was required to establish a matter (Deuteronomy 19:15). Sending disciples in pairs provided a credible witness to the message they were proclaiming.
Working together allowed the disciples to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, making their ministry more effective. One could teach or preach while the other could provide practical support or engage in conversation with the people.
There is a popular phrase today ‘an accountability partner’, someone who would journey with you and hold you accountable for keeping the goals that you have set yourself. Having a ministry partner helps maintain accountability, ensuring that each remains faithful to the mission and the teachings of Jesus.
Next year, please God, Sandee and I would celebrate 40 years in family life ministry as a couple. Even though it is not spelt out this way in my deacon assignment, I believe that we are sent to our new parish as a couple. In fact just being a faithful married couple is a sacramental ministry.
I believe Jesus is sending us out two by two. It doesn’t have to be married couple, though if possible that would be great, it can also be a ministry partner, someone who would journey with you in your ministry. I like the phrase ‘accountability partner’. I think it fits with my role to be a ‘spiritual guide’ to my individual and couple parishioners in their ministry.
In choosing a ministry partner, one must be wise and pray to discern correctly. Really, Jesus chooses our ministry partner, but we have to be attuned to His guidance. A ministry partner must have shared vision and values, complementary talents, spiritual maturity and must be trustworthy and accountable.
I come back to the parson bird and his partner. They look so different, yet complementary, and together they travel all over our neighbourhood, conducting their ‘ministry’ in their unique fashion. They are a sign for me, reminding me that Jesus sent them out two by two.
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