THURSDAY, FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Hos 11: 1-4, 8-9 Ps 80: 2-3, 15-16 Mt 10: 7-15
FAITHFUL MISSIONARIES OF CHRIST
The apostles who were molded by Jesus, faithfully followed his instructions, and because of their obedience, trust, and dependence on God, they became powerful and effective missionaries of the Gospel.
The first instruction Jesus gave to His disciples was to proclaim repentance. Acts 2:38, reveals St Peter preaching: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This message touched the hearts of the people, and about three thousand were converted on that very day.
The second instruction given by Jesus was to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.” The apostles faithfully continued this healing ministry of Jesus. Again in Acts 3:1ff, Peter and John heals a crippled beggar at the temple gate. Also, in Acts 9:36–42, Tabitha is raised from the dead by the Apostles. These miracles revealed that the risen Jesus continued His saving work through the apostles.
The third instruction of Jesus was: “You received without payment; give without payment.” The apostles obeyed this command during their public ministry. When Simon (Acts 8:18-20) saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. But Peter rebuked him sternly. The apostles understood that God’s grace is not for sale. Everything they had received from Christ was a free gift, and therefore it had to be shared freely with others.
The fourth instruction was not to depend on gold or silver. Jesus wanted His disciples to trust completely in God’s providence rather than in material possessions. The apostles lived this teaching faithfully. We have the words of Peter “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk” (Acts 3:6).
Like the Apostles we too are invited to mirror the life of Jesus—a life of love, forgiveness, humility, simplicity, poverty, compassion, and generosity. The world does not only need preachers of the Gospel; it needs living examples of the Gospel.
Response: Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
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