Without Cost

MATTHEW 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles:

"As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.

Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.

Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

I noticed that one classmate of mine had been wearing a black scrub top to class instead of the prescribed white uniform. It then occurred to me that his father just died.

I and that classmate of mine aren't really close, although we attended college in the same block and attended most of our pre-medical courses together. Somehow, there still lies the difficulty of coming up to him and offering condolences. There's this Filipino trait of pagkailang, in which a certain person finds it difficult dealing with other persons one normally does not deal with.

Right now, I feel the urge to pray for him and his family. But prayers must be put into action.

Today's Gospel highlights this message: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

In the same manner, I have not been friends with the Lord the first time He called me, and yet He has received me; now, this person and I may not be friends, and without that cost of having a prior friendship with him, I must give him comfort and strength.

Eternal rest, grant unto thy faithful departed O Lord

And let perpetual light shine upon them

May they rest in peace, Amen.

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

Saint Ignatius, pray for us.