There are two movements in the Gospel that I find very evident in our experience of formation, particularly the apostolate. The movement of sending off, and the movement of returning. But what happens in between is a treasure of experiences that could form part of our vocation journey.

When summer apostolate was back, I got to experience again being sent to a faraway land. In Davao, one of my assignments was to visit the sick amidst health protocols in place. With that experience, I felt I was like one of the disciples being sent according to the Gospel. Even though there was a language barrier because I am a pure Tagalog, this did not become a hindrance for me in sharing the love of the Father with the persons I visited. I was also touched by their gestures and saw them as their way of being grateful to God. They felt special in the eyes of the Lord.

Bringing God’s love to the sick people was not easy but, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was equipped to share the good news from the Gospel. Together with a Franciscan sister from Davao, we were able to lead a simple group sharing based on the Scripture. It was a humbling experience to be welcomed into their house, even though it was our first-time meeting. They did not hesitate to share their life stories and experiences of God’s love.

Like in the Gospel, I realize that sometimes I fear being sent out for a mission. But with those encounters in the rural BEC’s last summer, I experienced God’s guidance by allowing myself to participate in and endure the mission of Jesus Christ. When I returned to the seminary after the summer apostolate, I resolved never to miss the exciting part, by always remembering that God will not let me journey alone and that He will accompany me to fulfill the mission. All I need is to trust in Him.

By: Sem. Eric Yabut

Today’s Gospel

Lk 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.’
Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”