To me, this is consolation for my personal shortcomings and sins, strength for the journey, and empowerment for my baptismal call. I can still hear my two toddler's voices joining our congregation at Holy Cross here in Atlanta in the amens following the powerful voice of a particularly favorite priest. It must be the same amen the Twelve said when Jesus sent them forth two by two as recorded in this week's gospel. I rely on that in my own life, in the lives of those I love, and in the lives of those I don't even know. In the next fullness of time, we will all praise the divine favor together.
Discipleship is the mission.
We are disciples. Every one of us should be a disciple. In the reading from Mark we see Christ s instructions for discipleship. We see in today s Gospel the founding charter of the community of believers. Christ did not bequeath to the Church a mission in the political, economic or social order.