And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts,
no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.
And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.
As you enter the house, salute it.
And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor’rah than for that town.
Meditation
What does the Gospel cost? We should consider two prices: what it costs us to receive it and what we “charge” to share it. The Gospel’s value is infinite, beyond monetary measure, making it priceless to receive. Yet, when sharing the Gospel, we do so freely, without expecting anything in return. This is because the Gospel, belonging to Christ, is offered to us without cost.
“Without cost you are to give,” Scripture tells us, emphasizing the need to share the Gospel freely. However, this free sharing demands a personal commitment – giving of ourselves without reservation. This is justified by the fact that we’ve received everything freely through the Gospel.
The Gospel, embodying Jesus Christ, is a free gift that transforms us into a gift for others. Reflect on your openness to receive the Gospel and your readiness to share it freely. Let this divine gift change you into a blessing for others.
AMEN SHALOM