The Mission of the Twelve

Today's Reflections

 

                               

 

     

The Mission of the Twelve 

http://graceandspace.org

Mt 10:7-15

[Jesus said to the Twelve,] ⁷“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. ⁹Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; ¹⁰no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. ¹¹Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. ¹²As you enter a house, wish it peace. ¹³If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. ¹⁵Amen, 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.”

Reflection:

Do not take gold or silver. Jesus sends out the Twelve on mission. They are to travel light and focus on proclaiming the kingdom of heaven, doing miracles and driving out demons. “Without cost you have received,” he tells them, “without cost you are to give.” They are to be missionaries and not mercenaries. They must be committed, and not kumita (money earners), but Jesus assures them that they will be supported.

To go on mission is to share the compassion and generous love of Jesus. Missionaries share unselfishly and generously what they have received as grace. What a beautiful task—to be servants of the grace of the Lord for the sake of people.

You and I are called to be missionaries

of the kingdom.