Breaking the Word

He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?  For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear." He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mk 4:21-25)

Lamp is brought in to a place of prominence. It has to give light and hence it should be kept in the open and not kept in a hidden place. This example is to communicate the message that there is nothing hidden in the world and there are no secrets. The message of the kingdom, though communicated secretly or only to a few, will reach the ends of the earth and it will be openly announced.

So the disciples are asked to be take care about what they hear. Whatever they hear and whatever they speak are announced in the open and the way they do will be the way it will be done to him. The first message is about secrets and the second message is about justice.

The third message is about God’s generosity. The man one who has and does more with what he has, God in turn blesses him with extra. God’s generosity is motivated and encouraged by man’s generosity and effort to do good. The greater the good that man does still greater the reward for him.  

 After this 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.' (Lk 10:1-9)

People do not choose Jesus but Jesus chooses and it is he who appoints the disciples. They are not just followers of him in the sense of going behind him but rather they are also asked to go ahead of him to prepare for his coming. So the disciples in a sense are to be like John the Baptist. They have to prepare the people and get them ready to receive Jesus as he comes with the kingdom.

The disciples have to realize that there awaits a lot of work for them. In fact they have more work than they could do. This is the reason that they are asked to  pray for more workers in the vineyard of the lord. Working for the kingdom is demanding and it implies a lot of work. There is a need for greater number of workers. The disciples are asked to pray for, ask for and probably work for more labourers.

Jesus gives his disciples a list of things they ought to do. It is a code of conduct as they go about with the work of preparation.  Jesus also gives formation to his disciples. He tells them what to do and what not to do. He forms them in the mission. Formation is given as they go about with the work of the kingdom.