The Lord reminds the disciples that anyone who is not against them is for them. No matter what corner of the vineyard we are in, may we all work together for the Lord!
As Jesus sends out the disciples two-by-two to carry on His ministry, we see that with God’s grace and one another we can do great things for the Lord.
The readings proclaim how God reaches out to all people, regardless of ethnicity, language or culture. As sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father, we have the opportunity today to unite together through our attitude and effort.
The contrast between the unity that Christ prays for and the uproar around St. Paul reveals our constant need to seek out ways to grow closer together through the love of God.
The Lord sent out disciples in pairs, recognizing that we work best when we work together. Sometimes we give support, and sometimes we receive it, but through it all we grow in strength and wisdom when we unite our lives to Jesus Christ.
Jesus offers an important insight into how different groups can work together. When we put aside our ego and focus on the Lord’s mission we discover our ability to empower one another in the spirit and mission of Christ.
St. Paul teaches that we are part of the Body of Christ, and as members of this body we work with and for one another. What’s more, Jesus explains in a parable that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to many that society might not recognize as belonging to this body.
We all have opportunities, great and small, to make a difference in the the lives of others. With God’s grace we are empowered to go out into the world everyday, proclaiming the Kingdom of God as we work together.