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Gospel Reading for July 10, 2025 – Matthew 10: 7-15
TRUE WITNESSES
Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words— go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
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In short, in the Kingdom of Heaven, people are healthy and alive, people are clean and possess the Spirit of God. All that’s POSITIVE, all that’s GOOD, belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the mission of every Christian to contribute to the Kingdom of Heaven and bring peace on earth until their dying day. We need not be so concerned about our Christian values being accepted or not. We just do our very best and God will take care of the rest.
We may not be among those who are called to proclaim God’s Kingdom house to house, but our contribution will be great if we are TRUE WITNESSES of the teachings of Christ; if by the lives we lead, we are able to bring happiness and peace to others.
Let us ponder on the hymn, THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS –
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving of ourselves that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
