A Reflection on Matthew 10:7-15
When Jesus sent out the Twelve with those radical instructions - "Take nothing for the journey" - He wasn't just giving marching orders to a select group of super-apostles. He was establishing the blueprint for every single one of us who would follow Him. Those disciples were ordinary people: fishermen, tax collectors, regular folks who had encountered Jesus and couldn't help but share what they'd experienced. Sound familiar? That's because you and I are those disciples today! We've encountered Christ in the Eucharist, in prayer, in the sacraments, and in countless moments of grace. Just as Jesus looked at that first group and said, "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few," He's looking at us today with the same urgency and the same confidence. The world around us is hungry for authentic love, genuine peace, and real hope - and guess what? We know exactly where to find it. The question isn't whether we're qualified to evangelize; it's whether we're willing to let Jesus work through our ordinary lives in extraordinary ways.
Here's the beautiful truth that sets Catholic evangelization apart: we don't have to manufacture enthusiasm or fake spiritual experiences. We have the Real Presence! We have two thousand years of saints who've walked this path before us. We have the fullness of truth in the Church's teaching, and we have the power of the sacraments flowing through our lives. Just as Jesus told the disciples to "proclaim the kingdom of heaven is at hand," we get to announce that this kingdom isn't some distant reality - it's present right here, right now, in the Catholic Church. When we share our faith, we're not selling a product or pushing an agenda; we're introducing people to the Person who has captured our hearts and transformed our lives. Every time we invite someone to Mass, every time we share how prayer has changed us, every time we live out Catholic values with joy and authenticity, we're following those same instructions Jesus gave to the first disciples. The power to heal broken hearts, to cast out the demons of despair and loneliness, to bring peace to troubled souls - that power lives in us through our baptism and is renewed every time we receive the Eucharist.
The genius of Jesus' mission strategy was its simplicity, and that same simplicity is available to us today. We don't need to wait until we have all the answers or until we feel "holy enough." The disciples certainly didn't! They were learning on the job, making mistakes, and growing in faith right alongside their mission. What they had was an encounter with Jesus that they couldn't keep to themselves. Friends, this is exactly what our world needs from us. Not perfect people, but passionate people. Not theological experts, but joyful witnesses. Not people who have it all figured out, but people who know where to go when they don't have it figured out. When we share why we love being Catholic, invite others to experience the peace of Adoration or the joy of a parish festival, and live out our faith in our marriages, workplaces, and communities, we're doing exactly what Jesus commanded. We're letting people know that the kingdom of heaven has come near, and it's more beautiful than they could ever imagine.
So here's your invitation, dear friend: Jesus is sending you out today, just as He sent out those first disciples. Your mission field might be your family dinner table, your office break room, your neighborhood, or your social media feed. The instructions remain the same: go with confidence, travel light, and trust that God will provide everything you need. Don't worry about having the perfect words or the right apologetics training - just share the joy that Jesus has put in your heart. Be the person who lights up when they talk about their faith, who finds natural ways to mention how God has worked in their life, who invites others to "come and see" what the Catholic Church is really about. The world is waiting for your unique witness, your particular way of reflecting Jesus' love. Just as those first disciples returned with joy, amazed at what God had done through them, you too will discover that evangelization isn't a burden - it's the most natural and fulfilling thing a person in love with Jesus can do. Your mission awaits, and the King of kings is sending you out with His full authority and endless love.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
