The Holy Priest-Martyr Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre (361-63); the Holy Priest-Martyr Cosmas, Presbyter of Armenia (1707); Veneration of the Icon of the Mother of God, “Of Ihor,” so called because it belonged to Ihor Olhovych, Prince of Kiev (+1147)
Apostles’ Fast
Read
Romans 7:14-8:2; Matthew 10:9-15
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
You’ve heard the saying, “They missed the forest for the trees.” Sometimes we focus on all the details relating to a certain job or trip, that we can miss the bigger picture – why we are working, why we are going on the trip. As the Lord sent His disciples out to preach that the Kingdom of God was near (missionary work), He wanted to ensure that they remained focused on the actual mission work and not on all the little details (taking the bare minimum for the trip, relying on the hospitality of those to whom you will bring the Good News, etc.).
How you ever stopped to examine your life, to look at the bigger picture? To ask the questions – am I getting caught up in the details, am I forgetting the bigger plan that the Lord has for me in working out my salvation? Am I doing what the Lord desires of me? Am I participating in His mission? How am I being a missionary disciple?
Being a follower of the Lord and joining in His mission is not as simple as it seems – we have to order our life to our Baptism in His Death and Resurrection – that is what this time of Pentecost is for – being missionary disciples.