Mt 10:7-15 Without Cost You Are To Give(Click here for readings)
“Without cost you are to give.” We know what this means. It means that if you give, you ask for nothing in return. What we don’t always realize is that there is always a cost, a price that must be paid. The Lord demands that it be paid by the same giver. Nothing comes for free, not even salvation. A high price was paid for our salvation and it was paid by the one who saved us.
If you notice, The Lord sends his faithful few to people who are burdened with insurmountable problems. He tells them to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.” Who can do that? Who can rid themselves of addictions to pornography, drugs or alcohol? Who can end the plague of sexual abuse, teen pregnancies and abortions, self-mutilation and eating disorders? How can we rid ourselves of war, poverty, and illness?
“Remember the marvels the Lord has done.” The Lord has done marvelous deeds and holy is his name. He himself cured the sick, raised the dead and cleansed the lepers. He gives us hope and he asks us to give it too, by giving without cost.
The Lord has spoken words of wisdom. He speaks that truth which sets us free. He tells us how we should live, forgive, and give. He gives us the truth and he asks us to give it too, without any cost whatsoever.
The Lord has loved us beyond reason, assuming the position of a slave, ransoming us as benevolent benefactor. He is the sacrifice, the priest and the altar! He is love lived out. He gives us His love and asks us to give it too, irrationally, without cost.
To priests He asks that we speak out for the very young and for the very old. He asks us to defend the dignity of every person, on marriage and family. He asks us to not be ashamed to preach about Satan, sin and Hell. He wants us to encourage (and participate in) Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (the rosary) and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He is pleased when we wear our priestly garb in public for we are not called to blend in but to stick out. We are to give our words, works and life freely and without cost.
To parents He asks that they take their vocation seriously. They are to die to themselves, live for their spouse and rise for their children. They are called to lead and not be led. Parents are to swim against the current and go against the tide that continues to flood and suffocate religious beliefs and worship in and outside of the home. The Lord has asked them to do whatever it takes to prevent their children from being slaves to sin, slaves to their bodies and addicts to things. They are to give their words, works and life freely and without cost.
Some time ago, a parent informed me of how proud they were of their daughter who, out of curiosity, typed in some inappropriate words on her laptop and saw a flood of sexual images. In the middle of the night this young middle school student woke her parents up and told them of the terrible thing she had done. It was so important for her to tell her mom, to get it off her chest, and to not offend our Lord. What a holy little girl! Great job mom and dad! Yes, we can raise children and give them a beautiful conscience, a priceless gift!
