Thursday February 4, 2021 - Fourth week in ordinary time - The reign of God is very near. Convert and Believe in the Gospel - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 6, 7-13

Gradually, and in different ways, Jesus taught the Apostles, to finally send them on mission. They spent a lot of time with Jesus, forming themselves, learning to be the subject of the kingdom of God which they will then have to announce, and then they began to preach. It is therefore not a question of rushing headlong into the work, but of sanctifying oneself first, that is to say, to remain in Jesus, to live his life, to imitate him. This is the Christian life: call and mission, prayer and work.

Twice the expulsion of demons is mentioned in the Gospel. It is part of the mission of the Church because it is the demons who prevent people from receiving God, and who lead them away from the path that God has made. To this is added the call to repentance, that is, total devotion to God, so that demons cannot rule. Turn away completely from the work and deceptions of the devil. Preaching the gospel is not an advertising campaign, it is a struggle against demons - enemies with many faces - to establish the kingdom of God.

The mission is done with certain conditions: not to clutter up so as not to be overwhelmed and hampered in the progress, not to be distracted by the accessories and forget the objective of the mission. In this way, the one who goes on a mission is perfectly free and available. The Church, in her mission, also has a special regard for the sick. The anointing mentioned in the Gospel here is a care like so many others, but it is also a prelude to the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. Jesus does not leave us alone, in our commitment, but accompanies us with his strength and his power. As part of his mission, let us entrust our efforts to Him and ask that He send other workers to His field. Amen.