The Gospel for The feast of St. Vincent de Paul is taken from Luke 9, 6. Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons to cure diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let not one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.

And as for those who do not welcome you when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them. Then they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God, a way of life. And what’s so interesting to me is when he sends disciples out to announce that this kingdom is coming. The image is that the figures that represent that are the figures that can heal, free people from disease, from things like fear, shame, anger. How powerful a message this is for us to know that the real kingdom of God is going to be witnessed by how we free one another from all that robs us of our fullness of life.

Foreign Father, awaken us to this healing power that you share with us. Help us to be sources of life for those around us, believing and trusting that you are the one that heals. We are the ones who bring it to those people. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.