Matthew 10: 7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“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.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Wait For It...
Our daughter loved watching the surfing mockumentary Surf’s Up, especially with someone uninitiated with its parody and comic relief. As scenes unfolded, she would grin in anticipation of its witty banter, whispering “wait for it…wait for it…!” under her breath, and then erupt in full-bodied laughter. It never got old.
I wonder if the Apostle Matthew, in his account of Christ’s Kingship, felt a sense of “wait for it…!” anticipation as he carefully documented Christ’s genealogy and miraculous birth, his life and ministry, and death and resurrection. “The Kingdom of heaven has come near” holds not only a great promise and expectation of what’s to come, but, incredibly, as Christ’s forerunner John the Baptist declared, is present to those who repent and believe. It never gets old.
How do you recognize the kingdom of heaven near to you? Where are healing, freedom, justice and resurrection testifying to Christ the King in the now, and the not yet?
—Sharon Krone is Director of Ministry at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, Illinois, and a supporter of the Ignatian Spirituality Project.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, in your mercy you have refrained from establishing a kingdom limited to our finite expectations for riches, honor and pride. Rather you have instituted–and are revealing even now–an eternal, heavenly Kingdom marked by healing, wholeness, and life. Grant us the grace to repent, believe, and wait with joyous anticipation of your return and the fullness of your kingdom to come. Amen.
—Sharon Krone
Pray with the Pope
Pray with the monthly prayer intentions of the pope.