Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus,

Marsh bridge at MSF

Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.

The disciple of Jesus, sent to bring the good news to the world, doesn’t have time to argue about the message.

In today’s gospel we hear Jesus organizing his assault upon Jerusalem. He assembled a big campaign, sending thirty-six pairs into every town and place he intended to visit. He gave them specific instructions because he didn’t have much time: Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals, and greet no one along the way. And, if anyone will not accept the Shalom you bring to them, just keep moving!

Jesus and his disciples announce a kingdom of peace, not of theology, ideas or arguments. It’s not about new ideas to build a better future. 

But some people don’t want peace. Why not? Don’t worry about it. Keep moving. There is no time to waste.

Rudeness takes too much time and too much energy, and accomplishes nothing. Invariably it slows us down because we have to go back and atone for it.

As we read this scripture we might understand that Jerusalem stands for the Mass and our attendance. In a sense, we are always on our way to Mass; each week begins and ends in this most solemn ceremony. This is where we live. As we meet others between Sundays, we invite them to come join us. There is no need to argue about the worth of the Mass. If they see our good works, our honesty, civility, courtesy and generosity, they’ll follow us. When they experience the beauty and depth of our rites, they'll join us.