Wednesday 14th Week OT A 2026

Gospel 

Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

It is easy to see the kingdom of heaven as something that is far off or that’s where we hope to be when we leave this world.

 

I can easily go through each day thinking I have time. I just need to live according to his instructions and attend church and pray often and I am good. But when we are face to face with Jesus two things are going to shock us.

 

The first is when we finally see and understand the eternal and deep driving love God has for us. Each of us. How he has put everything together to help us. His mother is now our mother. We have guardian angels waiting to help us. He sent an advocate who can lead us on the path. His love for us and all he has done for us will be revealed finally. How intent he was in watching our every move waiting for us…hoping for us to finally see his love for us.

 

But when we meet him face to face it will wash over us like a tidal wave. We will see his glory. His intense unmeasurable love for each of us. And it will be in the light of that love we see ourselves for the first time. No curtains of justification for our actions. No gray areas. Just who we have been and what we have done. Good and bad. And we will all fall to our knees in humility knowing each of us do not deserve his love. We will be judged not in cruelty but in love and we will be convicted.

 

The second thing that will be made transparent is how did we do with the blessings and gifts and help he gave us.

 

Did we build the kingdom of heaven here on earth?

Jesus came to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. His disciple’s role is to spread that kingdom.

 

Our calling is to continue that work. To be a light reflecting the light of Jesus Christ for all.

 

Through our charity and love and absolute caring for others as we place God first in our life.

 

We are responsible for others and for the building of the kingdom of heaven where God has placed us.

 

How are we doing?