God’s love is contagious. When you catch it, you are sent. For God always seeks human partners. Sending is necessary because the need of our wounded world is great. So, David sends Solomon to carry out God’s commands. Jesus—God-with-us—commissions the Twelve to do what he does: preach repentance, liberate people from the oppression of demons, and cure the sick.
Apparently, the Twelve experienced smooth sailing. But two things temper this picture of success. Just before Jesus sends them out, his own town takes offense at him so that he cannot “perform any mighty deed there” (Mark 6:5). Not exactly success! And before the twelve return to share their success, we hear the story of John the Baptist. Because he gave offense to Herod’s wife, he was brutally murdered. Doesn’t look much like success. Likewise, this memorial of St. Agatha reminds us of a woman martyr who was also brutally executed for her unwavering fidelity to God’s call.
We too are sent. Abiding in Christ, we too are meant to bear God’s love and mercy to our wounded world. There will be failures and successes, suffering and joy, the cross and glory. So it was for Agatha, so it was for Oscar Romero in our own day. But the Lamb led them and will lead us to the springs of the waters of life.
