Jesus is not looking for believers – He is looking for followers

We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen away, and 

to bring home those who have lost their way. Many who seem to us to be children of the Devil will still become Christ's disciples. -  Francis of Assisi

Gospel Text: (MT 10:7-15)

Jesus said to his Apostles:
"As you go, make this proclamation:
'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town."

Although our times may not be ideally suited for sharing our faith, that is no excuse for avoiding our mission.  There’s a lot of uncertainty, confusion, and pain in the world.  All the more reason that Christ urgently calls us to share his good news, to bring about healing and shalom to a hurting and angry world.  

In today’s gospel Jesus gives us a pointed reminder about our responsibility:  Without cost, we have received the gift of faith, and without cost – read that, despite the cost – we are to share our faith with all.

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“The greatest way to witness is through the life you live. Let the radiance of your Christian life be such that it will make others ask questions about your faith.”

The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christ’s. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. -- C. S. Lewis: (1898 – 1963: was a British writer and lay theologian)

Gospel Text: (MT 10:1-7)

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
"Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

Reflect, today, upon how deep and sustaining your faith is.  Do you know and love God even when things are hard and when He seems far away?  Those moments, more than any, are the moments when your personal faith and conversion can grow the strongest. 

“The complexities of life can never be untangled by man; like a sheep without a shepherd we have been self-programmed for destruction because we are all sinners……… Jesus Christ is the only way.”

I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creation of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him. – Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), also known as Napoleon I, was a French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. 

Gospel Text: (MT 9:32-38)

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said,
"He drives out demons by the prince of demons."

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."

We can’t pretend that evil does not exist inside ourselves as much as in the hearts of others.  We all have our demons that need to be driven out of our lives.  But the good news of the Gospel is that we don’t have to do that alone.  We have a savior whose presence is always with us.

That brings to my mind the 23rd Psalm.  “The Lord is my shepherd” and “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me” are comforting words.  In our readings for today, Jesus comforts us again with the words, “I am the good shepherd.”  He sees us in the throes of evil as sheep without a shepherd and takes pity on us. But he doesn’t just rescue us from harm to live untroubled lives.  Jesus saves us for something bigger -- to labor in the harvest of righteousness. 

The unspeakable gift of grace is offered to all the world. Have you accepted it?

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them. - Saint Augustine Of Hippo: (354 – 430 AD: was a Roman African early Christian theologian and philosopher)

Gospel Text: (MT 9:18-26)

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said,
"My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live."
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured."
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
"Courage, daughter!  Your faith has saved you."
And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official's house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping."
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.

God’s grace is enough. He heals our wounds and supplies us with our every need. We need only to have faith.