GOSPEL, Matthew (10: 7-15)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 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. 15 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.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
In this passage from Matthew (10: 7-15), Jesus gives very concrete instructions to the apostles to adequately fulfill their evangelizing task, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”
The mission of the Apostles is based on the gratuity of its offer, absolute detachment and a relationship of peace with the evangelized, both in hospitality and in rejection. What “You, received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food.”
The apostle’s only baggage, according to Jesus, must be his word and his poverty.
They must recognize that they have received everything from God in a deeper form of poverty of spirit, which leads to sharing everything in fraternal love. Free of charge is a sign of the authenticity of he who has been sent.
The theology of mission, according to the New Testament, already starts from the fulfillment of the messianic promises, with the coming of the Kingdom in the person of Christ. It will be the Church that goes to the nations, in accordance with the missionary mandate of the Risen Christ, from whom she receives her own mission.
Those whom God sends are bearers of God’s Salvation: Therefore, to welcome or reject them is to welcome or reject the One from whom they are messengers.
Christians committed to the Good News of the Gospel; let us actively and enthusiastically participate anywhere, in any circumstance, at any time in building the Kingdom of God, here and now.
PRAYER
Blessed are you, Father, God of apostles and prophets, through Jesus Christ, Your First, sent on a mission of peace to announce to the poor the joy of deliverance, make us accessible both in freedom and poverty to offer to others what you freely give to us. Amen.