Called to Mission: Embracing Our Unique Purpose
Summary
### Summary
In today's reflection, we began by acknowledging our sins and seeking God's mercy, preparing ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. We then delved into the Gospel where Jesus summoned the twelve disciples and sent them out two by two, instructing them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick and sandals. This act of summoning and sending out is a powerful reminder of our own calling and mission in life.
We also touched upon the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of reason and free speech in our democratic society. The danger lies in viewing political opponents as subhuman, which can lead to violence and a breakdown of democratic values. We must remember that Jesus is our true savior, not any political figure.
Returning to the Gospel, we explored the significance of being summoned by God. Each of us has a unique calling, as distinct as our fingerprints. This calling is not just an abstract idea but a concrete reality experienced through personal prayer and intimate moments with Jesus, especially in the Eucharist. We are not only summoned but also sent out to fulfill a mission. This mission field is not far away; it is right where we are—our homes, workplaces, and communities.
We discussed the importance of traveling light, focusing on what is essential, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. The urgency to proclaim Jesus should be as intense as the urgency to save a life in physical danger. Our mission is to bring the Gospel to those around us, and this requires simplicity and reliance on God's supernatural power.
Finally, we reflected on the importance of following our gifts rather than our ambitions. Our circle of influence should be our focus, not our circle of concern. Even if the world doesn't notice our efforts, God does, and that is what truly matters. We are called to build God's kingdom in our unique way, trusting that our small acts of faithfulness contribute to His greater plan.
### Key Takeaways
1. Summoned and Sent by God: Each of us has a unique calling from God, as distinct as our fingerprints. This calling is not just an abstract idea but a concrete reality experienced through personal prayer and intimate moments with Jesus. We are summoned by name and sent out to fulfill a specific mission in our lives. [26:42]
2. Urgency in Mission: The urgency to proclaim Jesus should be as intense as the urgency to save a life in physical danger. Our mission field is not far away; it is right where we are—our homes, workplaces, and communities. We must have the same urgency to bring the Gospel to those around us. [29:17]
3. Travel Light and Rely on the Holy Spirit: Jesus instructed His disciples to travel light, focusing on what is essential. This teaches us to eliminate distractions and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Our mission requires simplicity and a focus on what truly matters—bringing souls to Christ. [32:11]
4. Follow Your Gifts, Not Ambition: Our mission should align with the unique gifts God has given us, not our personal ambitions. Ambition focuses on self, while gifts focus on how we can build God's kingdom. We should seek concrete ways to proclaim the Gospel in our daily lives. [33:35]
5. Focus on Your Circle of Influence: We often feel helpless when we focus too much on our circle of concern, which includes things beyond our control. Instead, we should focus on our circle of influence, where we can make a real impact. Even if the world doesn't notice our efforts, God does, and that is what truly matters. [34:52]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:55] - Gospel Reading
[23:09] - Reflection on Recent Events
[25:18] - Summoned and Sent by God
[29:17] - Urgency in Mission
[32:11] - Travel Light and Rely on the Holy Spirit
[33:35] - Follow Your Gifts, Not Ambition
[34:52] - Focus on Your Circle of Influence
[41:32] - Prayers and Offerings
[47:05] - Consecration and Communion
[51:25] - Final Prayers and Blessing
[01:09:21] - Announcements and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 6:7-13: "Jesus summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey, but a walking stick, no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals, but not a second tunic. He said to them, 'Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.' So they went off and preached repentance. The twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them."
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did Jesus give to the twelve disciples for their journey? (Mark 6:8-9)
2. How did the disciples respond to Jesus' command to go out and preach? (Mark 6:12-13)
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of being summoned by God? [26:42]
4. What recent event was mentioned in the sermon, and how was it related to the importance of reason and free speech? [23:09]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus instructed the disciples to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick and sandals? How does this relate to the concept of "traveling light" mentioned in the sermon? [32:11]
2. The sermon emphasized the urgency of proclaiming Jesus. How does the urgency to save a life in physical danger compare to the urgency to share the Gospel? [29:17]
3. How does the idea of following your gifts rather than your ambitions help in fulfilling your unique calling from God? [33:35]
4. What does it mean to focus on your circle of influence rather than your circle of concern, and how can this impact your mission? [34:52]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal prayer life. How can you create more intimate moments with Jesus to better understand your unique calling? [26:42]
2. Think about your daily routine. What non-essential activities can you eliminate to focus more on your mission to bring souls to Christ? [32:11]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel a sense of urgency to share the Gospel. How can you take concrete steps to act on this urgency? [29:17]
4. Consider the unique gifts God has given you. How can you use these gifts in your current environment—home, workplace, community—to build God's kingdom? [33:35]
5. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed by concerns beyond your control. How can you shift your focus to your circle of influence to make a tangible impact? [34:52]
6. In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit in your daily life and mission? Share a specific instance where you felt the Holy Spirit guiding you. [32:11]
7. How can you ensure that your efforts to build God's kingdom are noticed by God, even if they go unnoticed by the world? Share a personal experience where you felt God's acknowledgment. [36:11]
Devotional
### Day 1: Summoned and Sent by God
Each of us has a unique calling from God, as distinct as our fingerprints. This calling is not just an abstract idea but a concrete reality experienced through personal prayer and intimate moments with Jesus. We are summoned by name and sent out to fulfill a specific mission in our lives. This mission is not something distant or unattainable; it is right where we are—our homes, workplaces, and communities. Understanding and embracing this calling requires us to be attentive to God's voice in our daily lives, especially through prayer and the Eucharist.
Jesus' act of summoning the twelve disciples and sending them out two by two is a powerful reminder of our own calling and mission. Just as the disciples were given specific instructions and sent out with a purpose, we too are called to live out our faith in tangible ways. This involves recognizing the unique gifts and talents God has given us and using them to serve others and build His kingdom. Our calling is a personal invitation from God, and it is up to us to respond with faith and obedience.
[26:42]
Bible Passage:
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection:
What unique gifts and talents has God given you? How can you use them to serve others and fulfill your calling in your daily life?
### Day 2: Urgency in Mission
The urgency to proclaim Jesus should be as intense as the urgency to save a life in physical danger. Our mission field is not far away; it is right where we are—our homes, workplaces, and communities. We must have the same urgency to bring the Gospel to those around us. This sense of urgency stems from the understanding that the message of Jesus is life-saving and life-changing. Just as we would act swiftly to save someone in immediate danger, we should be equally motivated to share the hope and love of Christ with those around us.
Living with this sense of urgency means being intentional about our interactions and relationships. It involves looking for opportunities to share our faith and being prepared to give an account of the hope that is within us. This urgency is not about being frantic or anxious but about being purposeful and passionate in our mission. It is about recognizing the eternal significance of our actions and the impact they can have on the lives of others.
[29:17]
Bible Passage:
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV)
Reflection:
How can you be more intentional about sharing your faith with those around you? What steps can you take today to live with a greater sense of urgency in your mission?
### Day 3: Travel Light and Rely on the Holy Spirit
Jesus instructed His disciples to travel light, focusing on what is essential. This teaches us to eliminate distractions and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Our mission requires simplicity and a focus on what truly matters—bringing souls to Christ. Traveling light means letting go of material possessions, worries, and distractions that can hinder our mission. It involves trusting in God's provision and guidance rather than relying on our own resources and abilities.
Relying on the Holy Spirit means being open to His leading and empowering in our lives. It means seeking His wisdom and strength in all that we do. The Holy Spirit equips us with the gifts and abilities we need to fulfill our mission and empowers us to overcome obstacles and challenges. By traveling light and relying on the Holy Spirit, we can stay focused on our mission and be effective in bringing the Gospel to those around us.
[32:11]
Bible Passage:
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
Reflection:
What distractions or worries are hindering you from fully embracing your mission? How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit in your daily life?
### Day 4: Follow Your Gifts, Not Ambition
Our mission should align with the unique gifts God has given us, not our personal ambitions. Ambition focuses on self, while gifts focus on how we can build God's kingdom. We should seek concrete ways to proclaim the Gospel in our daily lives. Following our gifts means recognizing and embracing the talents and abilities God has given us and using them to serve others. It involves setting aside our own desires and ambitions and focusing on how we can contribute to God's work.
When we follow our gifts, we find fulfillment and purpose in our mission. Our efforts are not driven by a desire for recognition or success but by a genuine desire to serve and glorify God. This shift in focus allows us to be more effective in our mission and to experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from living out our calling.
[33:35]
Bible Passage:
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)
Reflection:
What are some ways you can use your unique gifts to serve others and build God's kingdom? How can you shift your focus from personal ambition to serving God and others?
### Day 5: Focus on Your Circle of Influence
We often feel helpless when we focus too much on our circle of concern, which includes things beyond our control. Instead, we should focus on our circle of influence, where we can make a real impact. Even if the world doesn't notice our efforts, God does, and that is what truly matters. Focusing on our circle of influence means identifying the areas and people in our lives where we can make a difference. It involves being intentional about our actions and interactions and seeking to bring positive change in our immediate surroundings.
By focusing on our circle of influence, we can avoid feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of the world's problems and instead concentrate on what we can do. This approach allows us to be more effective and impactful in our mission. It also reminds us that our efforts, no matter how small, are significant in God's eyes and contribute to His greater plan.
[34:52]
Bible Passage:
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection:
What are some specific areas or people in your life where you can make a positive impact? How can you focus more on your circle of influence and trust God with the rest?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God has given you a task or a job that is just for you in human history. And no other person will have this particular task or job. And nothing is accidental in your life. Everything is willed by God." [26:42] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The experience of not knowing why you exist is very painful. Like, why am I here? What am I doing? What's the point of my life? If I wasn't here, would anybody really notice? That's such a painful feeling for a human person. The answer, the solution to that problem is knowing you've been summoned personally by Jesus and sent out by him." [29:17] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The mission field is right here. It's your kitchen table. It's the person in the cubicle next to you at work. It's the person two desks away from you and like your third session in college or high school. It's not far away. It's right here. Everyone that's in your life, God knows that and has willed that, and you're called to one mission to them, to proclaim the gospel." [30:46] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Follow your gifts, not your ambition. Your ambition is about you, your own popularity, your own success, your money, what have you. Your gifts is, how has God equipped me as uniquely as my thumbprint, my fingerprint? And how is he calling me to build his kingdom with the unique gifts that he's given me?" [33:35] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The world doesn't need to notice. We live in a time where it's so easy. Everyone has, leaves you a camera with them at all times and on their phone. And so there's a desire that everything has to be noticed by the world. But that's not true. God sees all things. And so even if the world doesn't notice, it has value in the eyes of God if we're focusing on our mission field. That's where holiness is found." [36:11] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Do you ever experience in your life the urgency that's born out of feeling like you're on mission for Jesus? Some years ago, I was at the Grand Canyon, and I remember somebody had walked past the barrier. year, and they had walked to the edge of the Grand Canyon, and were sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon. And I found out recently that about 12 people a year die every year at the Grand Canyon." [29:17] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we look at the gospel, when Jesus sent them out, what are the qualities of how they travel? They travel sparse and relying on the supernatural. Sparse is they only bring what's essential. Jesus says, just bring sandals, a walking stick, and then don't bring all this other stuff. Just bring what's essential. And a way that we can apply that to our lives is, how much time do I waste every day on non-essential things?" [30:46] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The context in which God is doing these supernatural things is when people are proclaiming the gospel to new people. I was in a prayer meeting in college, out of a prayer group, and we used to say, if you want God to do something amazing at your prayer group, invite somebody new. Because the idea was, God most likes to show his supernatural power for people that are unbelievers, that they would come to believe in who God is." [33:35] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In everyone's life, you have a circle of influence, and you have a circle of concern. And your circle of concern is bigger than your circle of influence. And the temptation for all of us is to focus too much energy on our circle of concern, which are things that we're concerned about, but they're outside of our power. We don't have any real influence over them. We can pray for them, but that's essentially it." [34:52] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "There's a famous story of Pope John XXIII, and before he would go to bed, he would always end by praying, well, God, it's your church. I'm going to bed. And the idea is, even the Pope, right? It's not his church. It's Jesus'. You're in charge. I'll just need to focus on the mission field you've given me." [36:11] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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