Mt 10:7-13
[Jesus said to the Twelve,] 7“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.9Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; 10no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. 11Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter a house, wish it peace. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.”
No sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. These are not traveling tips or little instructions for the traveler. These are ways of life. They are attitudes one has to develop to live life simply, lightly, and freely. The more needs we have, the heavier the journey becomes. The greater our expectations and more worldly our desires, the more complicated life becomes. But when we desire to make God and God’s love near and concrete to the sick and the poor, when we strive to drive away evil from our midst, then peace shall be upon us.
These are no life’s instructions from Jesus. They are his life, his mission, and his reason for living. They are what he does himself. He lives them and finds peace. We who are in constant search for meaning and purpose need not search far and deep. Discover Jesus, live Jesus, and be like Jesus. A heavy task? Start by living simply and caring deeply.