Freely you have received, freely give
M Mons. Vincenzo Paglia
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Gospel (Mt 19,27-29) - At that time, Peter said to Jesus: «Behold, we have left everything and followed you; what then will we have?". And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, you who have followed me, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory at the regeneration of the world, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Whoever leaves houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or fields for my name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus, after choosing the Twelve and entrusting them with the mission of announcing the coming of the kingdom of God, continues to clarify the content of the announcement they must make to those they encounter. «As you go, preach, saying that the kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, purify the lepers, cast out demons"; and he adds to make "peace descend" into the homes of men. It is essential content for those disciples, for the Church of all times and for every Christian community. Jesus warns them not to let themselves be overwhelmed by other worries, such as "gold or silver or money in your belts, or a traveling bag, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff." They may seem useful for the mission, but in truth, in an insidious way they often distance disciples from the absolute primacy of the Gospel. It is necessary to frequently meditate on this evangelical page to understand the true treasure that is entrusted to our hands and to understand that our strength lies only in Jesus, certainly not in our organizational forms, in our programmatic elaborations, in our strategies. Jesus, therefore, indicates peace as the gift that the disciples must bring to the cities, villages and homes of men. It is a greeting that the world particularly needs today. The world is still marked by violence and conflicts that poison the lives of many. And often it is our homes, our families that seek that peace that they cannot find and which still remains the only ground for a more peaceful and happy life. Tensions and misunderstandings too often make our homes places of division and laceration. The Christian community is called to be an operator and bringer of peace in conflicts that hurt people as well as the homes of our cities.