These Tanzanian high school students are not saddened by the poverty in which they live; they are over-joyed with the educational and spiritual opportunities they have.

 

Fifteenth Sunday in OT  B  2024

Propagation of the Faith

 

In the Gospel, Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them 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 the belts.”

 

In this Gospel, Jesus’ mission becomes the mission of the Twelve -- and our mission.  Jesus’ instruction to the Twelve are his instructions to us as well.

 

I would suggest a key word in the commission of Jesus to his apostles is baggage or perhaps the need not to be hindered by baggage in bringing the message to others.  “Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey.”    Jesus is calling us to a Gospel simplicity -- possessions are not to weigh us down or to keep us from being dependent on God’s providence.

 

The baggage that sometimes weighs us down is physical baggage of it that flies in the face of Gospel simplicity.  There is also emotional baggage that can us weigh us down.    What emotional baggage do you carry around that is not of the missionary spirit Jesus calls us to?

 

n  Hurts from a significant relationship.

n  Judgments you make about other people.

n  Fears that keep you confined to a safe comfort zone.

In praying over this Gospel, all of us need to do an inventory of our physical and emotional  baggage that weighs us down.  We need to pray for the grace of healing of memories that keep us from being more free?

 

There is for me a powerful example of some beautiful young women that are not bogged by baggage.

 

Today we are celebrating our annual propagation of faith weekend.  The second collection is to support St Mary’s School in Mazindu Ju in an area of Tanzania that is characterized by extreme poverty.  St Joseph’s has been supporting this most worthwhile tithing commitment for about 10 years now. I along with five other parishioners had the blessed opportunity of visiting first-hand this academic and residential high school for 1200 high school girls in this rural and poor area region of Tanzania in 2018.

 

Our parishioners have made three pilgrimages to this incredible school for your Tanzanian women under the leadership of a Benedictine priest from Elmira, NY,  Fr Damien Milliken.  The school is staffed by the most inspiring group  of religious women – the sisters of Usambara.

 

I have many treasured memories of our pilgrimage to St Mary’s School.

 

I will speak to just three powerful images that speak volumes that this school is on very holy ground.

 

The first image speaks to the Gospel message on not being hindered by unnecessary baggage.

 

To describe St Mary’s School in Mazinde Ju in Tanzania is a bit of a challenge.  It is a residential school where these students live during the academic year and are able to get three healthy meals each day.  The dormitories these students live in are filled with bunk beds.  Each girl has a tiny cubicle which houses all her worldly possessions including all her clothing.  I have a beautiful grandniece for whom to put all her clothes in this tiny cubicle would simply be impossible.  My grand niece has much too learn from these Tanzanian high school girls.

 

These high school students, these beloved daughters of God have no sense of entitlement by which they expect people to take care of them.  They are so grateful for every opportunity in life that is given to them.  They are not saddened by the effects of the poverty of the country; they are joy-filled in the opportunity that is given to them as students in this quality academic setting that is filled with so much love and so much spirituality.

 

I tell you this first-hand from having the privilege of sending time with these students in Mazinde Ju in Tanzania to be inspired by their faith, their desire to learn, the way they care for one another, and the opportunity St Mary’s School gives these students to continue their education.  Under the inspired leadership of this Benedictine priest Fr Damien Milliken and the religious sisters of the Usambara, these students are formed and fashioned after the mind and heart of Jesus.

 

 

A second important message from today’s Gospel is Jesus sent his disciples two by two.  To take a moment to reflect on this message as it applies to the students of St Mary’s School in Mazinde Ju.

 

The commission of Jesus to his apostles tells them what not to bring but also what they are to bring in announcing the Good News of the Gospel.  Jesus sent them out two by two.  They were not  to be lone rangers.  They were to companion one another on the journey and be companioned by others. 

 

Jesus has not sent us alone.  We are meant to rely on one another so as not to be distracted by our belongings, by our stuff.  Many of us have more stuff than we need.  I count myself in this number.  Our stuff can certainly be a distraction from the ministry of evangelizing.

 

By God’s providence, we are missioned to accompany to accompany these young Tanzanian women is their educational and spiritual journey.

 

 

Six years when I was in Tanzania,  I had the profound privilege of spending some time with this young Tanzanian girl I had been sponsoring for the last three years.  I tell you I had to tell myself: “Be still my heart” when I realized the opportunity I was giving this daughter of God in my prayer and in my tithing commitment.  In all truth, l cannot think of a better use of this money.  I continue to give a $1,000  a year in support of this young girls who are so deserving of the outreach of St Joseph’s Church.

 

Another profound image from profound image I have from my Tanzanian pilgrimage:

 

In my 56 years as a priest,  I have never experienced a liturgy in which at 6:00 am on each and every school day 1,200 high school girls in full Catholic school uniform sing the opening hymn with enthusiastic voices accompanied only by one of their own beating her heart out in striking a well-worn drum.  I tell you looking out from the altar at these Tanzanian girls was a mystical moment of prayerfulness and joy.

 

The goal of our liturgies is to have the full, active participation of  the entire assembly in praise of God in the celebration of the Eucharist.  I tell you our only comparison here at St Joseph’s is our Christmas Eve liturgies.  I don’t say this in criticism of our excellent liturgies.  I say this under the complete inspiration of young women who are thankful to God of the opportunity they have to give thanks to God for this education opportunity, for this spiritual opportunity of becoming more aware of God’s unending love for us.

 

 

May God give you peace and the spirit of generosity.