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Theo Tigno•
7/11/2007 8:29 am
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Wednesday, July 11th 2007 |
Matthew 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.'"
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for mothers who have lost their children.
"The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Normally when I hear this reading, I envision going out into the world and talking to those who have chosen not to follow Christ.
Then I realized something over the past few months: what makes me think that I'm not one of the lost sheep? What makes me think that I'm not the one who needs to hear that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand?
This statement, for me, reminds me that now is the time to put away the things that hold me back from holiness. Now is the time to remind myself that the things of this world are temporary, so trust in The Lord. Now is the time to take a look at the trials I am enduring and remind myself that "the Kingdom of God is at hand... be strengthened by this trial and this temptation!"
It's easy to want Jesus to be a genie and take away the things that defile us. We have to do our part in striving for holiness for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Take care and God Bless.
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