Abundance and Mission

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with last instructions and our acceptance of direction in our mission.

A Path for Life

The Reading from the First Letter of Kings presents David’s Last Instructions and Death.

a. [2:3] Dt 17:18–19.

b. [2:4] 2 Sm 7:11–16; Ps 132:11–12.

f. [2:10] Acts 2:29.

g. [2:11] 2 Sm 2:1–4; 5:1–5. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Responsorial Psalm from First Chronicles is David’s Prayer.

i. [29:12] 2 Chr 20:6; Wis 6:3. (1 Chronicles, CHAPTER 29 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark proclaims The Mission of the Twelve.

* [6:8–9] In Mark the use of a walking stick (Mk 6:8) and sandals (Mk 6:9) is permitted, but not in Mt 10:10 nor in Lk 10:4. Mark does not mention any prohibition to visit pagan territory and to enter Samaritan towns. These differences indicate a certain adaptation to conditions in and outside of Palestine and suggest in Mark’s account a later activity in the church. For the rest, Jesus required of his apostles a total dependence on God for food and shelter; cf. Mk 6:35–44; 8:1–9.

* [6:10–11] Remaining in the same house as a guest (Mk 6:10) rather than moving to another offering greater comfort avoided any impression of seeking advantage for oneself and prevented dishonor to one’s host. Shaking the dust off one’s feet served as testimony against those who rejected the call to repentance. (Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner asks How can I focus more on people, and not things?  What can I do to help make the world a better place, right now, right here?

We get weighed down by things and titles and the ways we think we have to live our lives to be successful. Take Let me look at my life and figure out ways to pack light. I don’t expect perfection, but I can take steps to drop some of these things that can become burdens.

The second reminder for me from today’s gospel is when Jesus tells the apostles to leave a place that does not welcome them and “shake the dust off your feet.” For me, I think this means to acknowledge mistakes, work to correct them, and move on. This applies to myself and to others. Not everything works out. I will make mistakes. Other people will make mistakes. Let me assume good intentions. Let me work to make sure my intentions are good, that I do see the good in everyone. Let me let go of grudges, of past hurts and misunderstandings. Let me see God in all things, including myself. Let me shake the dust of those grudges and perceived slights and move on. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gives them power to heal and cast out evil spirits,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed... "He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 comments that when it came to handing on his kingdom, David knew that Solomon’s relationship with God was far more important than what he owned or whom he commanded. That relationship would be the foundation on which his kingdom would be built.

The same goes for you. Even if you’ve had your ups and downs, like David, you can still invite the people you care about to follow the Lord. You can leave them the legacy of the way you related to the Lord during your life and how that affected the way you related to other people. They can learn from the example of how you received mercy from God, how you did your best to serve him and trust him, and how you intend to love him to the end. These are the priorities that will leave a priceless inheritance for your loved ones. Because the best legacy you can leave your family is the example of a life surrendered to the Lord.

“Father, help me to love you better so that my life can be a lasting example for everyone who knows me.” (Meditation on 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 1 Kings David gives Solomon a set of instructions to follow the Lord and walk in His way. Another set of David’s instructions resonates with a mafia don. David had reigned seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus sends the disciples out two by two. Providence will provide what they need. Some will not accept the message so be prepared to shake the dust off your feet. Don’t cast pearls to the swine. Friar Jude notes that the twelve are healing and blessing in the Kingdom that comes through Word and Deed.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, encourages us to pray for a worldview of abundance instead of scarcity.

The worldview of abundance depends upon us recognizing that we are in touch with an Infinite Source. If we’ve never made contact with our Infinite Source, we will be stingy, even selfish. We will guard and hoard the portion we have. This affects much of our politics and policies in this country. We’re always afraid that someone else is taking what we have earned, as if we had earned it entirely by ourselves. Most of it has been given to us, yes, by our work, but also by grace and freedom, and the choices of many other people, almost despite ourselves.

Jesus represents the worldview of abundance in every one of his multiplication miracles and stories. There’s always the making of much out of little and there are always baskets left over. That’s the only possible message: There’s plenty! If we learn to be creative, if we learn to be imaginative, if we learn to be a little less selfish, there’s always another way to look at it and another way to make sure all are fed. (Rohr, n.d.)

We reflect on the message in the life of King David and the resonance of the commission of the Twelve to teach and heal with the expectation that Providence would support their “packing light” and “shaking the dust” from activity that is met by rejection.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?7 

Meditation on 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/05/1494436/ 

1 Chronicles, CHAPTER 29 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1chronicles/29?10 

1 Kings, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/2?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). There Is More Than Enough. CAC.org. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://cac.org/https://cac.org/daily-meditations/there-is-more-than-enough/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Gave Them Authority over Sickness and Unclean Spirits. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-5-2026 

Faith and Praise

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today share the experience of full life through our faith in the Providence and love of God.

God Bless our Land

In the reading from Genesis, a Son is promised to Abraham and Sarah.

* [18:3] Abraham addresses the leader of the group, whom he does not yet recognize as the Lord; in the next two verses he speaks to all three men. The other two are later (Gn 19:1) identified as angels. The shifting numbers and identification of the visitors are a narrative way of expressing the mysterious presence of God.

* [18:6] Three measures: Hebrew seah; three seahs equal one ephah, about half a bushel.

* [18:8] Curds: a type of soft cheese or yogurt.

* [18:10] One of them: i.e., the Lord.

* [18:12] Sarah laughed: a play on the verb “laugh,” which prefigures the name of Isaac; see note on 17:17. (Genesis, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)

The response from the Gospel of Luke is Mary’s Song of Praise, the Magnificat.

* [1:46–55] Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Because there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy and her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v. 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for God’s favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. The loose connection between the hymn and the context is further seen in the fact that a few Old Latin manuscripts identify the speaker of the hymn as Elizabeth, even though the overwhelming textual evidence makes Mary the speaker. (Luke, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus heals a Centurion’s Servant and many at Peter’s House.

* [8:5–13] This story comes from Q (see Lk 7:1–10) and is also reflected in Jn 4:46–54. The similarity between the Q story and the Johannine is due to a common oral tradition, not to a common literary source. As in the later story of the daughter of the Canaanite woman (Mt 15:21–28) Jesus here breaks with his usual procedure of ministering only to Israelites and anticipates the mission to the Gentiles.

* [8:5] A centurion: a military officer commanding a hundred men. He was probably in the service of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee; see note on Mt 14:1.

* [8:8–9] Acquainted by his position with the force of a command, the centurion expresses faith in the power of Jesus’ mere word.

* [8:10] In no one in Israel: there is good textual attestation (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus) for a reading identical with that of Lk 7:9, “not even in Israel.” But that seems to be due to a harmonization of Matthew with Luke.

* [8:11–12] Matthew inserts into the story a Q saying (see Lk 13:28–29) about the entrance of Gentiles into the kingdom and the exclusion of those Israelites who, though descended from the patriarchs and members of the chosen nation (the children of the kingdom), refused to believe in Jesus. There will be wailing and grinding of teeth: the first occurrence of a phrase used frequently in this gospel to describe final condemnation (Mt 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). It is found elsewhere in the New Testament only in Lk 13:28.

* [8:14–15] Cf. Mk 1:29–31. Unlike Mark, Matthew has no implied request by others for the woman’s cure. Jesus acts on his own initiative, and the cured woman rises and waits not on “them” (Mk 1:31) but on him. (Matthew, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)

The Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries was not available at publication time today.

Don Schwager quotes “Welcoming the Lord Jesus with expectant faith and humility,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"When the Lord promised to go to the centurion's house to heal his servant, the centurion answered, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.' By viewing himself as unworthy, he showed himself worthy for Christ to come not merely into his house but also into his heart. He would not have said this with such great faith and humility if he had not already welcomed in his heart the One who came into his house. It would have been no great joy for the Lord Jesus to enter into his house and not to enter his heart. For the Master of humility both by word and example sat down also in the house of a certain proud Pharisee, Simon, and though he sat down in his house, there was no place in his heart. For in his heart the Son of Man could not lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). (excerpt from SERMON 62.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 18:1-15 asks “What does God’s goodness look like? “ He reveals his goodness when he meets your needs (Philippians 4:19). When he replenishes your strength when you are empty (Isaiah 40:31). When he walks with you through dark and fearful days (Psalm 23:4). He remains good to you no matter what happens (23:6).

Is God good? Yes, he is! If you’ve been tempted to doubt that truth, remember how the Lord answered Sarah’s prayer for a son. He will bless you, too, in ways you may recognize only in hindsight. And on that day when you see his goodness face-to-face in his heavenly kingdom, you will know for certain that he truly has done marvelous things for you!

“Lord, open my eyes to see your goodness unfolding in my life today.” (Meditation on Genesis 18:1-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler connects the visit to Abraham in the desert of three visitors to the Trinity icon by Rublev.  Sarah laughs and the meaning of her son Isaac’s name is connected to laughter. Friar Jude note how Matthew shows Jesus fulfilling all the promises in Scripture about the Messiah.

Barbara Holmes introduces insight meditation teacher Ruth King who embraces art as a form of medicine for ourselves and our communities.

Consider your life a gift. What’s inside? What creative expressions are you warehousing that bring you alive and belong to all of us? Philosopher, theologian, and civil rights leader Howard Thurman encouraged us in this way: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”… 

Identify a creative project—something your heart is curious about that you might enjoy. Consider your artistic expression, no matter how large or small, a gesture of affection that cultivates a culture of care. Offer it generously, as ceremony, and without apology. Pay attention to how you and others are impacted. (Holmes, 2023)

We are invited to contemplate those times of reassurance and hope that resonate with the experience of Abraham, Sarah, and the people of faith healed by Jesus.

References

Genesis, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/18?1 

Holmes, B. (2023, July 1). Crisis Contemplation: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Cac.org. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/crisis-contemplation-weekly-summary-2023-07-01/ 

Luke, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?46 

Matthew, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/8?5 

Meditation on Genesis 18:1-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/01/721955/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Say the Word and My Servant Will Be Healed. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul1