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Gospel: Matthew 10: 7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation:
‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Immediately after inviting the disciples to share in his mission, Jesus puts them to the test.
They’re commanded to journey through the rocky terrain of Palestine with neither sandals nor food, not even a walking stick!
Why does Jesus strip his disciples of such basic human necessities?
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To teach them how to trust. God will provide for their every need, often through the goodness of others.
For example, when the disciples’ stomachs grumbled, someone would provide them with food. When their bodies were tired and achy, someone would shelter them. When they entered a new town preaching the Gospel, someone would be open to receiving the Word.
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Perhaps you and I are not tested like the disciples were, but we’re all challenged to trust that God will provide for our every need.
Maybe we need a door opened; a prayer answered; our mental or physical health restored.
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him,” Jesus says.
But sometimes we must be patient.
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May the Lord grant us the grace to believe, and to wait patiently for Him to act.
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Image credits: (1) World Outreach Church (2) My Treasure Box (3) Jesus is the Centre, Gospel Teaching Life Church