"You received without charge, give without charge." (10:8)

This is one of the instructions given by Jesus to the Twelve disciples as He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of heaven (10:7). In addition to the emphasis of radical poverty and detachment, Jesus spoke on service without charge. By this Jesus wanted them to devote themselves to the mission with undivided attention. The lack of material possessions and the lack of anxiety over these will certainly help them to remain single-minded in their mission. The poverty of the missionaries will enhance their own credibility and that of the message they proclaim. It also proclaims their trust in divine providence.

Today we look at these instructions as paramount to our missionary task in the world we are in. The lost sheep of Israel refers to the poor as the marginalized in our society. This supports the mission of the Church today which is on the side of the poor.

An important point to consider in living out our lives as followers of Christ, is the mobility in ministry which resembles that of Jesus. Like Joseph in the first reading, he was like the 'missionary' to Egypt and finally able to serve his own people in time of need. We are called to be 'missionary' which involves the mobilization of people to accept a new way of being that will bring about peace, harmony and love.