Word of the day

A reading from the Book of Proverbs
PRV 30:5-9

Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.

Two things I ask of you,
deny them not to me before I die:
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, “Who is the LORD?”
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God.

From the Gospel according to Luke
LK 9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

The disciples will have authority if they follow in Christ's footsteps. And what are Christ's footsteps? Poverty. As God, He made Himself man! He annihilated Himself! He emptied Himself! Poverty leads to meekness, to humility. The humble Jesus goes through the streets healing. Thus, an apostle with these attitudes of poverty, humility, meekness, is capable of having the authority to say: "Be converted", to open hearts. (Santa Marta, 7 February 2019)