In today’s Gospel, Jesus called his disciples and authorized them to drive out unclean spirits and cure every disease and illness. He freely chose the twelve and called them by name! When I meditated on the reading, I cannot help but ask myself if Jesus was left with no choice but to choose them and if he could have chosen someone else better. They seem to be quite far from what an apostle or disciple should be — they always argued and quarreled and seemed to have difficulty in understanding Jesus’ words.

However, Jesus trusted them and even sent them on a mission early in His ministry. He instructed them to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel and proclaim the coming of the “Kingdom of Heaven” in every town they enter. With Christ as their center, they were sent as witnesses to the unbelieving world. God saw their unlimited potential, not their limitations, if they choose to respond to His voice.

I could relate very well with the disciples of Jesus. As a seminarian, I do not find myself worthy to be a witness and instrument of God. I realized that, somehow, Jesus also shared with me the ability to heal and restore. I may not have the ability to heal physical illness, but I can always help uplift someone’s spirit. As Christians, we are all chosen and sent by God on a mission. We can love, care and give attention to others. We are invited today to put Jesus in the center of our lives so that our weaknesses could be our strengths, and our limitations, our potentials. With that, we can freely share the gifts and blessings that God graciously gave us.

By: Sem. Lester John D. Cabais

Today’s Gospel

Mt 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’“