Accept the Call of Christ and His Gospel

Accept the Call of Christ and His Gospel

The Mandate or Commission

The Bible is very clear that the Apostles and the disciples are given authority by Christ to represent the Message or Gospel to those around them. This authority comes from God.  One who represents God must never forget that they are always a servant.
Authority, and what graces flow from it, are gifts from the Almighty.  Gifts are meant to be shared in order to build up the common good.  At the same time, we become changed, or grow in holiness, when we use our gifts lovingly. The mandate or commission to serve the Kingdom of God is also intended to change the world around us. The particular calling is to preach the Kingdom of God.  It is a spiritual message that we are called first to preach. The good things that come from this Kingdom will follow if we live according the God’s Word.
The Gospel of Luke, in particular, includes prayer for laborers for the “harvest”, which will happen in the Kingdom of God even here on earth. We should be a people of prayer in approaching the needs of ministry.
The message of this Kingdom of God is what we call the “Gospel”.  The word Gospel means the “Good News”. The Good News is in fact the grace that flows from the event of Salvation. That event is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Without this event there would be no Good News of Salvation.
The particular treasure that we have to offer the world is that God desires that people be in relationship with the Almighty through the Son, Jesus, and in the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  Baptism allows the event of the Lord’s death and resurrection to make us a part of the Church, or the spiritual Kingdom of God. We become a new person in Christ.
The one who preaches the Kingdom of God, or gives witness to it, should remember that the primary purpose is to share a spiritual message with others. We are not called to preach our own ideas or agendas, but rather the spiritual message of Christ.

Reflection Question:

1. Why is it important to have a mandate or commission in order to preach or teach?
2. What is the “Good News” or the “Gospel”?

 
(These reflections and questions are based on certain passages of the Bible taken from Exodus 18, Numbers 11, Luke 9 & 10).