- First Reading: Prov 30:5–9
- Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
- Gospel: Luke 9:1–6
When do we give up? I think that is one of the questions the Lord addresses in today’s Gospel.
There is a phrase often used in the business world that applies to much of life: the sunk cost fallacy. We have spent so much time, money, or effort on something that we feel we must keep doing it, even when it is not accomplishing what we hoped. Sometimes the best choice is to start over and endure the pain of doing so.
This happens in the Church, too. We have our own phrase for it: “We’ve always done it that way.” Sometimes that is a good reason to continue. We have done something the same way for years because it works. But sometimes it has not worked from the beginning, and we have never been willing to consider another way.
When Jesus sends out his apostles, he gives them a way to recognize when to move on. If a place does not receive them, they are to leave and go to the next one. Their mission is to evangelize all of Israel. They cannot become so caught up in reaching one person or one household that they neglect everyone else. If they do not succeed in one place, they must go somewhere else and try again.
So the question “When do I give up?” begins with another question: “What is my mission?” If Christ had sent an apostle specifically to convert one household, that apostle would have needed to keep working with that household. But that was not the mission he gave them. Their mission was broader, and it guided their decision to move on.
We need to ask the same question about our own lives, our groups, and our organizations. What has God called us to do? The answer helps us discern whether to keep pushing forward, try a new approach, or start again from scratch. Sometimes faithfulness requires persistence. Sometimes it requires creativity. And sometimes it requires us to leave behind an effort that is keeping us from the mission.
“We’ve always done it this way” does not settle the question by itself. We need to be able to say, “We’ve always done it this way because this is what God has called us to do.” If we cannot say that, we need to reconsider.
So when we face a failure, let us first ask: “What fundamentally is my mission? What is God calling me to in this moment?” Then let that answer guide whether we begin again or keep moving forward.