Mt 10: 7-15
As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.
Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations
Sharing the Joy and Love
“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” This is the message that Jesus is sending his disciples out to share with others in today’s Gospel.
Many of us feel uncomfortable when we hear the word, “evangelization” and we can equate it with shoving one’s faith down another’s throat. However, this is not what Jesus asks his disciples to do. No, instead Jesus sends the disciples out to encounter the people where they are. This is not easy since many feel hurt or angry with God or the Church and can lash out at us if we try to share our faith with them. Yet this is where we are called, to share the good news of redemption with everyone.
How can you share the joy and love of Christianity with another today? (It may be through listening to or quietly loving another who has felt hurt.)
—Brother Pat Douglas, S.J. lives and works at Creighton University, Omaha. He is also vocation promoter for the Wisconsin Province Jesuits.
Prayer
Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing frighten thee. Everything is changing, God alone is changeless. Patience attains the goal. One who has God lacks nothing. God alone fills our needs.
—St. Teresa of Avila