Matthew 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."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for the recovery of Linda Zerangue, Kristen Colson, and Christina Davis. Also, for the safe travels of Steve Phelan and Dianne Kimak.
Outwardly, I seem like a mild-mannered guy. Deep down inside, though, I'm really a stubborn guy.
As I was reading through today's reading, I couldn't help but think about if I was a disciple sent forth. I'd be the guy that wouldn't be shaking the dust from my feet. Instead, I'd be the guy still at the first town six months later, still trying to tell the people of the town about Jesus.
That made me think about free will, which drew me to look into the Catechism:
"Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. By free will one shapes one's own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude." - CCC 1731
Going back to the situation, my own stubbornness would not be an act of perfection. While I could be doing it for The Lord, deep down, my own stubbornness is not something that is directed toward God.
Today, brothers and sisters, let us remember to use our free will to grow in holiness by directing our wills towards His ways. Take care and God Bless.
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