The last verse of this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 9, 36-10,8) is compelling and demands our attention: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Worded more simply, this command means, “The gift you received, give as a gift.”
These words of Jesus really are a command, not wish or a hope. And He gives this command to disciples of every generation and time. In a sense, if we count ourselves as His disciples, then we know what to do – what God expects of us. A problem comes, however, when we forget that everything is a gift and we begin to think that we somehow earned something, deserve something, or can control anything. That is foolishness at its best.
Faith, hope, and charity are among the most important gifts we have received. The more we share them, the greater they become.
Let us pray. “O God, giver of life and source of freedom, we know that all we have received is from your hand. Gracious and mighty One, you call us to be stewards of your abundance, caretakers of all you have entrusted to us. Help us to always use Your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
For further reflection: It seems like we always want to have a program to solve every problem, personal and communal. Even the Church sometimes thinks that way. We think we have to have a program for converts, for engaged couples, for Confirmation …. However, those programs are nothing without someone to simply be there for others, to sit and listen, to wait, and watch. Can we let go of our need to “program” or “schedule” the movements of the Holy Spirit?
