In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out the Twelve with power and authority to cast out demons, to cure diseases, and to proclaim the Kingdom of God. It’s a dramatic moment. They are given extraordinary gifts and a clear mission. But what about us? Most of us are not sent with power over demons. We are not miracle workers. We are not itinerant preachers going from village to village. So how does this Gospel speak to us?
While the form of our mission in the world may differ, the heart of the mission remains the same. Jesus sends the Twelve to do two basic things: proclaim the Kingdom and heal the broken. And that remains our mission in our time and place.
Maybe you are called to grab a megaphone and go to Reston Town Center to proclaim the Kingdom. Maybe not. But each believer has to figure out some way to proclaim the Good News, otherwise the point of Monday’s reflection (don’t hide your light under a basket) was probably lost on you. You probably aren’t doing sermons, but are you living lives that reflect God’s reign; lives of mercy, justice, humility, and love. When you forgive you proclaim the Kingdom. When you welcome the stranger, when we show compassion, and when we live with hope in a world that often feels hopeless – we are proclaiming the Gospel. Maybe you’re not wearing signage, but someone will eventually ask you why you do what you do. “The love of God compels me.”
How is that we heal the broken? Probably not with miraculous cures, but with presence, kindness, and care. We heal when we listen to someone who is hurting. When we comfort the grieving. When we feed the hungry, visit the lonely, or simply show up for someone in need.
Notice also how Jesus sends them:
- With simplicity—“Take nothing for the journey.”
- With trust—“Whatever house you enter, stay there.”
- With freedom—“If they do not welcome you, leave.”
This is a reminder that the mission of the Gospel is not about control or success. It’s about faithfulness. We are called to go, to witness, to love—and to leave the results to God.
You may not have power over demons. You may not be curing diseases. But you do have the power to bring light into someone’s darkness. You do have the authority to love in Jesus’ name. And you are sent today, and every day to be a living sign of the Kingdom of God.
Image credit: Road to Emmaus | James Tissot, 1886 | Brooklyn Museum | PD-US