The kingdom of heaven is at hand

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying, "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs, for a worker is worthy of his food. Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in that day of judgment than for that city!"

- Matthew 10:5-15

In yesterday's reading, we read about Jesus preaching and teaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and disease. But, we were told, when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. He told His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Then He appointed the Twelve, who will be sent out. He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Our reading named the Twelve, including the one who eventually betrayed Jesus.

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying, "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." We recall the words from yesterday's reading, But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. These are words that come from Scripture (see Num. 27:17; 1 Kin. 22:17, and Ezek. 24:5), and they point to the lack of religious leadership for the people. So, the disciples are first sent to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." My study bible says, "Jesus sends them only to the Jews, the focus of His earthly ministry, that the Jews might not, after the Resurrection, blame the disciples for 'going to uncircumcised men' (Acts 11:3), the Gentiles." The Greek apostolos means one who is sent out on a mission.

"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" This phrase will be echoed through the gospels, and Jesus will use it in several contexts. Its meaning can be extended in several ways. But one thing we can understand: the kingdom is carried with us, within us, among us. The apostles carry it with them. And, in the context of the Hebrew Scripture, it is "at hand" -- imminent. It is the long awaited time of the kingdom, the messianic age. But we note the words, it is "the kingdom of heaven."

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." This is a full blessing of Jesus' power, invested in and shared with His disciples, so that they in turn may represent the presence of that kingdom "at hand," imminent in the world. These are extraordinary powers that can only come from the divine, and from His kingdom. They bear it within them, and it has been bestowed freely. Thus, "freely you have received, freely give." In a relationship with Christ, we 'earn' nothing, grace is 'freely given' and 'freely received' - not as the world gives. My study bible says, "whatever they accomplish is a gift from God."

"Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs, for a worker is worthy of his food." My study bible's note is worth reading: "He instructs them to carry no money; they must depend on God for their sustenance. Also, this prevents any accusations of greed. He frees them from worry about worldly provisions so that their only occupation is preaching the Word." In some extended sense, they are dependent only upon God for all things. It is a further extension of the teaching on their spiritual gifts which they are to bestow freely.

"Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out." This is also an extended teaching on humility, on the attitude of the "poor in spirit." The presumption is that they are not to move to households that may be more affluent, more comfortable, but to stay where they are first made welcome, with those who are willing to hear.

"And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in that day of judgment than for that city!" Again, it is worth quoting a note from my study bible: "Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, the same peace He offered when He said, 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you' (John 14:27). God's peace, proclaimed by the Prophets of the Old Testament (see Is. 52:7), revealed as a fruit of the Holy spirit (Gal. 5:22), is to this day given to the people through the Word of Christ, "Peace be to all," spoken by His priests in the Liturgy." "Peace be with you" is a greeting with which we are all still familiar, carried through the centuries in the Church. We must note the emphasis here on the response of people to the presence of the kingdom, to the bestowal of the peace. "Freely you have received, freely give" applies also to the bestowal of peace: here, we understand what it is to refuse this gift, this grace, the work of the Spirit in the world. "Shake off the dust from your feet" is the only rebuke given in instruction by Christ. Judgment is left to God alone.

What does it mean to offer God's peace to others? Surely this peace is more than just a greeting or a formality. It's a gift -- a gift of grace, of the Holy Spirit, of the presence of the kingdom that is at hand. It is more than simply harmony with one another, but also signifies intention, the intention to do good. I have heard love described also as the intention to do good to one another, to wish good for one another. Christ's peace, which He gives and offers to all of us as He left it with His disciples at the Last Supper, is something that extends our awareness of peace to even deeper levels. It is also a gift of reconciliation, to God, in Him, and to one another. This is a deeper sense of relatedness, of love, and more. It implies the hope of deepening mystical union in that Body of Christ, even to relationship to the Father. So, when we offer our peace to one another, let us consider the depth of that peace, and its deepening meaning and sense in us. If we carry His kingdom within us, as we are freely given its blessings, we can come to understand that peace as a depth of gift of the Spirit, a fruit that keeps on growing, giving, and blessing. Let us also consider what it is within us if we spurn that gift. Peace be with you!