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 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." Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodo m and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.'

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus chose his twelve disciples from a variety of backgrounds and with different experiences. They weren't from privileged families, but were ordinary men. Now, we see Jesus commissioning them. He gives them 'instructions'. This word in Greek is that of an officer giving his men their orders. It's also the word that a teacher uses when laying down rules for students, and it's a word used for a command by the Emperor to his ambassadors. No longer will Jesus work alone, now he has twelve disciples to take his message to others. Notice he doesn't say that the Kingdom of heaven is 'coming'. Now he says that it has 'come near'.

As well as commissioning the disciples Jesus gives them power - to teach, preach and heal - and he also gives them specific rules about where to go. They are to go to Jews, not to Gentiles or to Samaritans. God's mission is to go first to the House of Israel and then in due course from them to the wider world. He instructs them what to take, and what not to take, and how to behave.

But the most important thing for us to note is that when God calls a man or a woman, he gives them the power to do the job he has called them to do. As the saying goes, "Whom God calls, God equips". We may not think we have the gifts and skills to do the task, but once we start they become available to us.

Lord God,
You call us to be Your people,
and to follow you.
When we are hesitant
help us to be confident.
When we are unsure we heard Your voice,
give us a clear sign.
When we fear we don't have the gifts
to do Your work,
may we trust in Your provision
and Your plans for us.
Amen.