Saturday 1st week of Advent
"Mt 9:35-10:1.5a.6-8"
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd...And he called to him his twelve disciples and sent them out, charging them, "go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.
Jesus had compassion on the crowd and in order to help and relieve them, His loving Heart decided to send them His disciples. That's what Jesus did: He had pity on them and sent them His Apostles. And the Apostles received very clear instructions: to preach and to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons." They had been given that power for free and were asked to put it at the service of those who needed it.
That's what God does: He gives people talents to serve others. You and I have been given something that many others may need; that's the purpose of our talents and gifts. Have you heard the story of the man who saw a little girl begging in the streets? He was upset and indignant with God, and said to Him, "God! Why do you allow this girl to have to beg for a living? Why don't you do something?" To his surprise, he heard the voice of God replying, "But I HAVE done something! I put YOU there!"
We are a gift to others. But a proper 'gift' has to be 'given'. We have to give ourselves to others completely! If you fill a large cask with wine and leave other casks half full, your wine would spoil only in the latter instance. Wine is well preserved if the cask is full of wine and sealed with no air inside it. On the other hand, those casks that are half-full can turn sour, because wine becomes vinegar when it comes into contact with air. Something like that happens with the soul. Giving oneself only partially ends up corrupting our friendship with Jesus. We can ask ourselves today: Do I put my talents at the service of others? Do I give myself completely to those around me? I ask you, my Mother: help me to be generous in giving myself to others.
