St. Joseph

"He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two." This Sunday we read the first sending of the Apostles to preach, teach, and heal. For many of us, it can be easy to think we "just don't have enough" to be disciples and evangelists ourselves. We don't have enough education and training. We don't have enough experience talking to people about Jesus. We don't pray enough. We don't have enough faith.

If you look at the Apostles in today's Gospel reading, they didn't have much either. "No food, no sack, no money in their belts." They didn't plan out their itinerary or book their lodging in advance. From what we know of the Apostles, they were not the religiously trained and educated ones. They were fisherman, tax collectors, and political activists. But what does being a fisherman require? Someone like Peter needed a strong work ethic to rise at strange hours. He needed patient calm to wait for the catch. Once ashore, he needed a savvy mind to fetch a good price for his labors.

As Peter became a fisher of men, he would need diligence to persevere through the hard journeys, long days, and persecution that awaited him. He would need patient calm with those who disagreed with him. As the leader of the Apostles, he would need a savvy mind to navigate challenges facing the early Church. From one perspective, Peter has nothing to offer the mission of Jesus. Thinking more creatively, one can see that -- joined with faith and love -- perhaps Peter had everything he needed. 

Jesus sends you as well. As you take stock of your own talents, consider how they might be offered as a gift to others. Maybe you already have more than enough.