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Take nothing for the journey.

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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

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What was one of the most remarkable traits of Jesus?

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Gospel: Matthew 10: 1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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One of the remarkable traits of Jesus was his ability to bring people together. 

For example, today he calls the Twelve Apostles. Some of these men would never have been friends without the Lord.

Consider Simon and Matthew.

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Simon was a member of the Zealot party, a group of Jewish patriots who viewed the Roman Empire as an invading force that stole their freedom. They wanted independence and would do almost anything for it.

Then there’s Matthew, also a Jew, who served the Empire as a tax-collector. Matthew would’ve been seen by Simon as sleeping with the enemy.

And, somehow, Jesus brought these men together, uniting them under a single purpose – the salvation of souls.

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That’s what the Holy Spirit still does today.

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The Spirit fosters harmony; inspires forgiveness; heals wounded hearts; and enables people with divergent – even conflicting – views to set aside their differences to work together for a greater purpose.

How do I feel the Holy Spirit working in my life? How do I serve with others to build the kingdom of God?

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Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in us the fire of your love, and we shall renew the face of the earth.

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Image credits: (1) Icon of Jesus, Pantocrator, World History Encyclopedia (2) St. Elisabeth Convent (3) Pittsboro Presbyterian Church

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Christ has no body now but yours.

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Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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There’s nothing that pains the Lord more than human suffering. In addition to today’s Gospel passage, consider a few other moments when Jesus is moved with pity.

His heart broke when he saw the widow at Nain.

This mother was on her way to bury her child – perhaps he imagined how his own mother would soon feel. Overcome with compassion, Jesus touches the boy’s tomb. Instantly, he’s brought back to life.

Then Jesus is moved with pity when he gazes upon a tired and hungry crowd. 

Thousands had been following him for days, but they had nothing to eat. So, the Lord multiplies loaves of bread and, the Gospel tells us, “all ate and were filled.”

Then he’s stirred with compassion when he’s confronted by a leper who spent his entire life in isolation. Feeling this man’s loneliness and sense of abandonment, Jesus forgives his sins, heals him, and sets him free.

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We could add thousands of other examples in our world today that pierce our Lord’s heart with pity. 

But, as Teresa of Avila once wrote, “Christ has no hands now but yours. No body but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he sees. Yours the hands with which he blesses. Christ has no body now but yours.”

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Moved with compassion by the suffering of others, may we use our eyes, hands, and feet to be the body of Christ for another today.

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Image credits: (1) Prayer of Teresa of Avila, Young Catholics (2) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christ Comforts Mary and Martha (3) Young Catholics, ibid.