What is a Christian’s purpose? Suppose we see ourselves as the Apostles whom Jesus addresses in today’s Gospel. In that case, it may seem on a very literal level that our job is to “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, [and] drive out demons” (Matthew 10:8). In sum, it may seem like our task is like Joseph’s from the first reading: “for the sake of saving lives” (Genesis 45:5). Some of these directives are outlandish. How can we cure the sick, especially if we are not all called to work in medicine? As for driving out demons and raising the dead, these tasks belong to extraordinary saints or Hollywood. Ultimately, how can we mere mortals “save lives?” Isn’t God the only one who can save us, anyways?
While some literal interpretations of these commands have generated great works in the Church, such as with the founding of hospitals, they might seem out of reach for the average Christian. Perhaps, instead, we are called by Jesus to go and accompany others who are suffering. St. Ignatius of Loyola understood the Jesuit’s role is “to help souls” – not to save them. The saving is really for God. All we can do is help those souls on their path toward God. And we can help through practical ministries like medicine and simply accompanying others in their pain and agony. All Christians can similarly understand their call “to help souls,” too. Although we might not be able to raise the dead back to life, exorcise evil demons, or heal intractable diseases, we can be good apostles if we walk with those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, who suffer from the evils of addiction or mental illness, or sit by the hospital beds of the infirmed. We all know someone who is suffering and who could use a companion. Who is God inviting you to accompany in your life?