To Proclaim and Liberate

Gospel: Mark 3: 13-19

In today's Gospel portion Jesus chooses the first group of many to follow in order to help him in his mission to the world.  They are tasked with proclaiming the Good News and to deliver others from the demons that haunt them.  That we are to be about Good News is an essential characteristics of the Christian life.  We are not to traffic in the bad news of the world, but to continually remind humanity that God has come and liberated us from sin, that we are to extend this mercy to others.  

The proclamation of Good News is the first way in which we expel demons from the lives of others.  This message of mercy and forgiveness of sins releases many from the demons of guilt and shame.  The works of mercy offered to others is another way in which demons are driven away - the demons of mistrust, loneliness, poverty.  The sharing of table fellowship further expels these demons of loneliness and despair, hunger and pain that grips many lives.  

This is the task of all Christian disciples.  Yes, these twelve men are chosen here to these tasks.  But so too was the Samaritan woman at the well who proclaims Good News to her town.  So too is Mary Magdalene whom the Lord told to proclaim the Good News of the resurrection.  So too are we all to go and share the Good News through deeds of mercy and loving kindness, to bind wounds and liberate others from their demons, and to nourish others at the table of the Lord.