Mission Specifics

 

Matthew 10: 7-15

 

Freely Have Your Received; Freely Give

⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

As we have received, so should we give.  Basic advice for any "apostle", then or now.  All is gift, and what we have received is not for our exclusive use, but to be shared with all. The other stringent directives Jesus gave we can observe "in spirit" if not literally, for they are meant to free us from attachments that might hinder the spread of the Gospel.  The great missionary saints, such as St. Francis Xavier set the bar high for us, by giving totally of themselves/  Jesus meant what he said, and can still work in and through us when we "let go and let God." work through us.

Bro. Rene