We are his people: the sheep of his flock.(Psalm 99)
In Matthew’s gospel today, Jesus calls his twelve disciples. He sends them out with certain instructions, mainly to go first to the lost sheep of the House of Israel and proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Then, he empowers them with the physical signs of the kingdom: “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils.”
We ask ourselves: what has happened to these marvelous gifts? Why are we so limited and weak?
If we reflect further, the question resolves itself. The Resurrection of Jesus has given us power to move heaven and earth, if we take authority over the new life of grace he has given us. We are God’s adopted children, with the kingdom of heaven within us and eternal life with Him awaiting us. We have only to ask, knock, seek, desire and we shall be answered.
Above all, as Saint Paul says in the second reading: “Because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ,” we can stake our claim to the kingdom, dream big, storm heaven, never give up.
We belong to God and God belongs to us.
