Jesus said to the Twelve:

7 “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. 9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on. 12 As you enter into the household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”

Matthew 10:7-15 - World English Bible

Everyone needs a motto in life. Mine comes from Matthew 10:8b, “Freely you received, so freely give.” Or, as I like to translate the verse, “The gift you're given, give to others.” This simple phrase sums up for me the call of the disciple.

Jesus sent out the Twelve with a mission, to do what he did, to preach God's message and heal with God's power. He instructed them to travel light, unencumbered with money or extra clothing, so they would not be desirable targets for thieves. His orders also meant they were to travel short distances. Once they arrived at a village, he wanted them to accept the hospitality of a single clan; if they moved from family to family, they might cause hurt feelings and scandal, being perceived as seeking the “best deal in town.” He ordered them to bless the host family with “Shalom,” peace. Notice, this was more than a greeting; it was a divine command on equal pare with the Good News, for it was the peace of the Christ. If peace did not reign on their mission, if the message and ministry of those sent caused scandal, the peace would return to them. Those who rejected the missionaries would be rejected; shaking the dust of one's feet was a grave insult, implying those rejected were not worth even the dust below one's sandal, even below the level of the snake that slithered on the ground (the devil). Those who rejected God's message and power would be truly condemned.

While we might not be called to travel as missionaries, we are disciples. We are to be Christ to others, just as the apostles represented the Lord to those who heard the Good News. We, like the Twelve, are to go and give to others the gift of faith given to us.

Who have you evangelized this week?