December 7, 2014

Read It:
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

Reflect on It: In today's gospel, we hear that we have received without cost and are to give without cost as well. Are we people who count what we receive? I think that often, we have to consider if we count when we receive. As the world focuses on Christmas, we tend to look at what we're getting. The Lord of the Universe calls us to give without cost. We have received everything with no cost, including the Christ Child. He is all we need and now in turn we go to serve him. Are we wrapped up in finding the perfect gift this season. Give in a different way, give without cost. Give your entire life to Christ.

Pray about It: Lord, everything I have is yours. Help me this day to give without cost.

Live It! Challenge: Figure out an item that you can live without this Advent and donate it to a local charity. (This one is hard, but we can do it together!) Then say a prayer for the person who will receive it.