[ Today's Readings ]
Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
These are the riches we receive in Christ.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (see Ephesians 1:17-18)
These are the riches besides which all gain is to be regarded as loss (see Philippians 3:7). These are the riches of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ apart from which we have no reason to boast.
These are the riches of the abundant harvest of God. But the laborers who can reap this harvest are few. We need to pray for more laborers to aid in spreading this wealth to the world. Indeed, all wealth besides this wealth is actually poverty. The world, whether it knows it or not, is desperate for what can truly satisfy. The world boasts of many things but it will not know peace until it boasts in the cross alone.
We need to labor ourselves. We've received these riches of mercy and we must share them. We must regard this mission as more important than our own comfort. We must be willing to go without money bag, sandals, and walking stick if we are asked. We must eat and drink what is set before us. We can't let concerns about such things override the mission. We must be willing to go even to places where we might experience rejection. After all Jesus experienced the rejection of the world, starting from the inn in Bethlehem all the way to the cross, for our sakes.
He gives us power for the mission. Even demons become subject to us. But this must not become a distraction either. Instead the focus must be entirely on the goal. We must think only of the riches we have to share.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
Let us declare what God has done until all the earth can cry out to God with joy.
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