Gospel (Mt 10:7-15)

Jesus said to his apostles:

“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 anyone 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 Gomorrah than for that town.”

Commentary

The Gospel for today’s Mass shows us the universal mission of Christians: to preach the Gospel.

Jesus teaches us that preaching the Gospel includes both material and spiritual works of mercy. It includes not only raising the dead, understood as helping all men and women to attain eternal life. Jesus also wants us to strive to improve the material conditions of those in need: to care for the sick, to look after lepers.... He tells us that we need to strive to improve the living conditions of those who are suffering, including their material good.

But Jesus does not remain on a purely material level. He wants every person to come to know the Gospel, to hear his message of salvation, his message of joy. A person who is truly seeking Christ does not need anything else, since it is Christ who completely satisfies the human longing for happiness. Christ is the answer to all our questions and needs.

So often we cling to material goods, seeking our security there and wanting to always have more. We think our happiness is found in these goods. But Jesus tells us that we must detach ourselves from them and cling only to Him. So often in our life we give priority to having over being. And Jesus reminds us that, to carry out the mission of preaching the Gospel, what we need is not an abundance of material goods but rather complete trust in Him.

Many people today are overwhelmed by suffering and sorrow. Christians are called to help all those who are suffering. But also to help them look higher, to look at Jesus, at the Kingdom of Heaven. We can ask Jesus to enkindle us with the desire to evangelize the people around us.