Second Discourse in Matthew: Mission

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. ~ Matthew 10:5-15
If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.” ~ Thomas Merton


What are your qualifications to be a follower of Jesus?

 Who trained you?

 What does your resume say?

 What skills do you have to be sent out into the world to do God's mission?

 Or...

 Do you feel unqualified? Untrained? Unskilled?

 Unready?

 Well, if so, the good news is that you aren't any less qualified than a bunch of fishermen, tax collectors, political revolutionaries, and thieves.

 You probably have more training in fact!

 And, like that other mixed lot, instructions about.

 Were the disciples scared to go out and do what Jesus had charged them to do? I'm guessing they probably were. In fact, Matthew doesn't even tell us if they did it or not! (though the other gospels do).

 Does it mean that your mission is to leave your money and clothing behind and set off to convert the masses?

 Probably not (so no stripping in worship!!)

 But is there something - something you don't yet feel qualified for; something that you feel unready for so far - that God is moving you toward?

 Yet...so far...those words give you opportunity to turn them into "now."
Meditation: What makes you nervous to try, but you feel you are being called to try it anyway.



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