As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’

11 JUNE (Mt 10,7-13)

We often wonder: who exactly is a Christian? What is his mission in history? Is there a substantial difference between who is Christian and who is not? If there is a substantial difference, what does it consist in? These are questions that are asked and one has to give an answer to.

The words of Jesus are sufficient for the Christian to understand what his truth is. He is the person that must show the kingdom of God come onto the earth. Rather he is a person that has to manifest it accomplished in his life. I am the kingdom of God. I am in the kingdom of God. I proclaim to you the presence of the kingdom of God. I manifest you his coming among you through his life. This is the difference between who is a Christian and who is not a Christians. Who is not a Christian, he is not the kingdom of God, and never might he manifest it in its full truth. He might also live something of the kingdom, if he is of a good conscience; however, he might never be able to show the kingdom in its splendour of heaven, so as Lord Jesus made it.
As Jesus showed and established the kingdom of God on our earth, so it must be for every one of his disciples. He must attest, reveal, manifest, make present with his life the kingdom of God. He must do it through an entirely evangelical life, all intent at the imitation of Jesus the Lord. Word and work must be in the Christian one. Neither the word without the work, nor the work without the word. He must be a true revealer of the kingdom of God and must do so in the manner of God, of Christ Jesus: with the power of his words and works.

The power of the works that Jesus gives to his disciples is that of liberating man from the consequences of his sin. Diseases, death itself and the devil hold man in slavery. In Jesus’ times leprosy was an incurable disease. Well, the disciples of Jesus must go into the world to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and drive out demons. Where these things reign there is a decline in humanity. There is heavy slavery and invisible chains. Man feels the weight of this prison without bars and suffocates. He lacks true freedom. He is a slave to his sin.

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse 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.

The missionary of Jesus is very special person. He has to go into the world carrying only his body. Nothing else. He must give nothing materially. He must take nothing from the people. He enters a town poor and must get out of it poor. Freely he received and freely he must give. He is not a merchant. On the contrary, he is the person in charge by God to bring his divine gifts to his children. The greatest gift is peace. He must give the peace of God to every one of his brothers. Peace is in forgiveness, in reconciliation and in the forgiveness of guilt and in the cancellation of the pain.

The peace that the disciple of Jesus gives is with God, with his brothers, with themselves and with the whole of creation. However, it is not a peace without God, without Christ, without the Holy Spirit, without the disciple of the Lord. Peace is the gift of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and the very disciple of the Lord. Peace is welcomed, by welcoming the disciple. If the disciple is not accepted, not even peace will be accepted. The disciple takes it back and starts is way to other places in order to meet other men and make the same proposal of peace, reconciliation, return into the truth and justice. The disciple of Jesus does not go into the world to impose his peace, his word and his Gospel. He goes among his brothers to offer all these divine gifts. In the offer there is the acceptance or non acceptance.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us the peace of Heaven.