Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave
them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the
journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were,
however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you
enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not
welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in
testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve
drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured
them.
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Reflection:
Part of the growing-up experience of a child is to be summoned and
instructed by his/her parents to do this and that. As the child enters school
the teacher will also play the role of the parents by summoning and giving
instructions to the child.
The child will now become an adult and will be through with his college
studies. Perhaps he will tell himself: At long last! I am through from being
summoned and being instructed, but not yet. There shall be a very powerful
voice that will perpetually summon, tell and guide him on how he must properly
live his life.
This very powerful voice is no other than the voice of Jesus who speaks
to us thru the homily of a priest. The voice of Jesus who speaks to us thru the
voice of a Godly relative or friend. And the voice of Jesus who will speak to
us the moment we read the bible with reverence. If we will listen to this
powerful voice of Jesus we would be assured of a worthy and well lived life in
this world.
In our gospel the apostles were summoned, given authority and instructed
by Jesus after which He sent them to their mission two by two. These were the
instructions of Jesus: “Take nothing for the journey but a walking stick-- no
food, no sack, no money, wear sandals, wherever you enter a house, stay there
until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave
there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."
The apostles faithfully followed these instructions that’s why they were
very successful with their given mission. One of the countless concrete
evidence of their success is the faith that we have right now. We attribute the
Catholic faith that we hold on today to their faithful discipleship to Jesus.
They responded to the voice of Jesus and faithfully followed His instructions.
We too are being summoned and instructed by Jesus to help Him and the
apostles spread the faith. Are you doing something to help Jesus and the
apostles propagate the faith? – Marino J. Dasmarinas