The gospel for Thursday of the 14th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew 10:15. 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 your journey, or a second tunic, or sandals or walking stick.

The labor 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 the 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 and for that town. In this Gospel we again see St. Matthew describing the early church’s ministry. It is to be a gift that is given to those who will proclaim it to others. But in an interesting way.

They are not to go out and convert pagans to the reality of who God really is, but they were to go to the house of Israel. And what they were asked to do was to awaken them, to build on the goodness that is there, the grace, the peace that is in their homes. It’s fascinating to me that this was not about conversions, but about fulfillment. And it expresses once again the love that God the Father had and Jesus had for the Jewish people. Take a few moments to reflect upon these truths, and then I will close with a prayer. Closing prayer Father, there is something about you that is so consistent and so beautiful.

You are a lover and you never give up on those you love. You consistently work with them, help them to see things through experiences they’ve had. So bless us with an awareness of the confidence that gives us as we too participate in the coming, the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.