As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

– Matthew 10:7-15 (NRSV)

It is the sentence, “[you] received without payment; give without payment” that stays with me, in the Bible reading above. Like Jesus’ disciples sent to minister to God’s people, we have received Christ’s grace and healing, a taste of the kingdom of heaven, for free and undeserved. It is for us to let God’s Holy Spirit bring grace and healing to those we meet through us – for free, and undeserved – so that they too may experience the kingdom of heaven here on Earth.

Revd Claudia Coustas

Chaplin