July 9
Our Lady of Coutances
France (1056)
Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15
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| Image created using Google AI Image Creator. |
Today’s Gospel
hands the disciples a simple economy of grace: “Without cost you have received;
without cost you are to give.” Jesus sends them out with no money, no extra
tunic, no backup plan, just the instruction to give away freely what was freely
given to them, and to trust that provision would follow.
We complicate
this constantly. We treat grace, kindness, and forgiveness like limited
resources to be rationed out carefully, given only to people who’ve earned them
or proven they deserve them. But nothing in this Gospel suggests Jesus wants
His followers keeping score. The instruction is blunt: you didn’t pay for what
you have, so don’t charge for what you give.
Give something
away freely today without calculating whether the person deserves it. Forgive
without having them request it first. Encourage someone without needing it
returned. Share what you have without quietly keeping a ledger. Whatever grace
has been poured into you, and it’s more than you’ve earned, let it move through
you the same way it arrived: without cost, without conditions.
Today the
Marian calendar marks Our Lady of Coutances in France, 1056, a place of
devotion that asked nothing of those who came, only welcomed them. Our Lady’s
own yes at the Annunciation cost her everything and was given freely anyway.
Something to consider: What’s one thing you’ve been guarding that was actually
meant to be given away, have you been abundantly blessed with money, food,
love. Share it with those in need, those you feel our Lord is leading you to?
Rosary Man Jim 🌹
Freely given.
Freely shared.
