From today's Gospel: Luke 10:1-12
"He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
I used to feel uncomfortable with this passage since it seemed mean and discriminating. I mean, come on - "The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you." Right?! So mean!
But then, I realized, that God had never been one to force Himself on anyone. (Free Will. Duh!) He wants Love freely and wholeheartedly given, without conditions or reservations. But who doesn't?
He offers this love and grace to everyone. It's up for everyone's taking. He does not discriminate. Afterall, He lets the sun shine on everyone - good or bad. BUT, first, we have to open ourselves up to Him so we can accept them. If we reject Him, naturally, we get into trouble. We wither away and die ... as does anything separate from its life source.
"He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
I used to feel uncomfortable with this passage since it seemed mean and discriminating. I mean, come on - "The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you." Right?! So mean!
But then, I realized, that God had never been one to force Himself on anyone. (Free Will. Duh!) He wants Love freely and wholeheartedly given, without conditions or reservations. But who doesn't?
He offers this love and grace to everyone. It's up for everyone's taking. He does not discriminate. Afterall, He lets the sun shine on everyone - good or bad. BUT, first, we have to open ourselves up to Him so we can accept them. If we reject Him, naturally, we get into trouble. We wither away and die ... as does anything separate from its life source.
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