Thoughts for the Day

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The twelve disciples are named 'Apostles' in the passage above. The word means "one who is sent out". We might call them an "Ambassador" today. They go bearing messages from their King and are tasked to heal the people and proclaim the good news that the "Kingdom of Heaven has come near". We needn't think anything of the instructions not to go to the Gentiles - they were not really equipped to do this, and it would take a more cosmopolitan Paul (who was a Roman citizen) and a more mature Peter to do this in the future. Effectively the twelve are restricted in this first foray to the area of Galilee, which at a distance from Jerusalem was more likely to receive them and their message.

We should note that Matthew uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven", whereas the other Gospel writers used the phrase "Kingdom of God". The difference seems to be that the "Kingdom of Heaven" describes a process or a series of events, whereby God begins to act as King or Lord in this, His world. But it might equally have been that Matthew was sensitive about using the word "God" ("Yahweh").

We have seen the Kingdom of Heaven break into our world with the birth of Jesus, and Jesus spoke of its arrival when he said, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28). He was to battle the power of evil throughout his ministry, but ultimately defeat it through his death and resurrection. However, this Kingdom of Love will not be completed until the end of time, but we can transfer our allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven by responding to the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed. Unlike those with dual citizenship and two passports in the world we cannot give allegiance to two Kingdoms. All of us are either citizens of God's Kingdom or another one. Though we may need to keep renewing our passport by confessing our sin!

Father-God,
help us to be loyal citizens of Your Kingdom,
to spread the Gospel to others,
and to share the good news through our actions
and our words.
May we not get tempted away by the fleeting
attractions of this world,
but keep faith with Your promises,
and serve You as our King.
Amen.