Receive & Give

Dear friends on the journey,

About ten years ago, I discovered the teaching strategy called “I do, we do, you do” being used in mentoring and raising up leaders in ministry. I appreciate this profound yet simple method and wonder if its origin is in fact in Jesus. Today’s gospel is an example of the master teacher at work.

Leading up to our gospel story, Jesus has called each of his disciples and begun to teach them in word and deed. They have become his students, watching and listening to his lessons on life, love, and faith. With the Beatitudes as a foundation, Jesus has taught them how to live as citizens of God’s kingdom — how to love, pray, forgive, trust God, and follow him faithfully. Moving from words to action, Jesus then began to teach the disciples through miracles and his ministry of healing.

Through all this, Jesus has been equipping them for something more, not just to receive and hold to themselves all his wisdom and lessons. A disciple learns from the master; an apostle is sent by the master. Jesus has shown that authentic discipleship always leads to mission. Today’s gospel is a pivotal moment, the movement from “I do” to “you do.” The Twelve are no longer only his disciples, his followers. Now they are his apostles, sent forth to do and put into action all they have learned. The apostles are now going out to give to others what they had received from the teacher. The apostles were sent out to proclaim and to heal.

This is our life of faith too. We are disciples and apostles. It’s not one or the other, rather it’s both and. We are to be disciples — followers who sit at Jesus’ feet to learn and receive his teaching, his healing, his love, his mercy and forgiveness. This transformative receiving is our motivation and invitation to be his apostles, sent forth to give what we have received.

In the gospel, Jesus did not send the apostles to the ends of the earth but rather to their own people it the house of Israel. Jesus asks us to start at home too. It is often said that charity begins at home so in reality we do not have to leave our zip code to minister for Jesus. Sometimes proclaiming the kingdom and bringing about healing simply means listening patiently to a struggling spouse, encouraging a discouraged coworker, forgiving a family member, reaching out to a lonely neighbor, and extending a spirit of generosity wherever we go, to whomever we meet. 

This week, Jesus sends us where he first sent the apostles — not to distant lands, but to the people already in our lives so today I invite you to reflect on what you have received from Jesus that others need to experience too, then, with confidence and courage, go and give freely what you have freely received.


Siempre Adelante,
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Teresa Runyon
Pastoral Associate 

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