Resignation? Acceptance?

Homily for Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Moderation in everything! This is, I am sure, something that we have all heard in the past. The sacred author of the Book of Proverbs was certainly on board with this idea. He writes: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.” A superabundance of material wealth might allure us away from God. However, abject poverty may lead us astray of the commandments.

Today’s Gospel text tells us the instructions gave to his disciples as he sent them to preach and to heal. We hear no complaints from the apostles. They are ready to go and eager to please. I suppose that if one would know that Jesus had given us the power to heal people, we would jump at the chance even if it meant having to give up everything. Like money, power and authority can also tend to lead us astray. Consequently, even this must be used in moderation.

There is another side to this coin, however. Jesus did not want the apostles to look prosperous. If they came dressed in fine robes, people might get the idea that the apostles needed to be paid in order to heal the sick and to preach the Good News of the Kingdom.

Of course, the preaching of the Gospel did not end with the apostles. It continues even today. We are all called to be witnesses who prepare people to meet Jesus. Like the apostles, the Lord wants us to share how he has changed our lives, and we do so with the hope that many more lives will be changed by his love and mercy.