Proper 6: Gospel, Matthew 9:35-10:8                                    

Matthew 9:35-10:8

The beginning of our gospel text points to an ongoing dilemma. It held that status when the gospel was written and it's as true today. The harvest is there, but relatively few there are who will go to gather it in. So that’s first.

Next we see Jesus stepping in to bring His remedy as He calls disciples (learners) and makes them apostles (sent ones). But as wonderful as that is, and Jesus, the Lord of the Church is still calling men to lead His flock, that is not my focus for this writing. Rather it is the subject matter of what these will proclaim. You find the issue at the tail-end of the reading:

“Freely you have received, freely give.”

-Matthew 10:8

What the apostles of Jesus had received, all of what they had received, was received freely. In other words, it was all a gift. By extension, it is the same for you and me. Then comes the next step for us. Gifts received are never to be hoarded, but shared. And why? Because He who is the source of the gift wants it that way. The apostles had received it freely. All they were given. All they had from their Master was received freely. Requiring nothing from them, Jesus exhorts His followers to do just what He had done.

Freely. We grapple with it. We downright struggle with it. Both as receivers and as givers. If we are required to “pay” for the gift or if we require payment from others before we give it away, then the focus on Jesus is blurred. That must never happen. “Freely you have received, freely give.”

Freely.