Three Words

July 12, 2018

Hosea 11:1-4, 8c-9; Matthew 10:7-15

Three Words

Today Jesus completes his instructions to the Twelve as he sends them out on their initial mission.  These instructions can be summed up in three words:  proclamation, providence and peace. 

Jesus tells these disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God.  That kingdom is realized every time that we fulfill Jesus’ commandment to love God and others.  That kingdom is proclaimed whenever we share the word of God with others and whenever we are instruments of God’s goodness, healing power, compassion and justice. 

We rely on God’s providence.   The apostles did not have any luggage or many supplies when Jesus sent them out.  But they always had what they needed to complete their mission.  Can we trust that God will do the same for us?

We are instruments of God’s peace.  We cannot control how others will respond to our work of evangelization, but when we are determined to be men and women of peace, we will be changed.  And as we change, our world can also be transformed into something that better reflects the kingdom of God.—JC