and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and sickness.
Jesus sent these Twelve on mission, with the instructions:
“Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town.
Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go, and proclaim this message:
The kingdom of heaven is near.
Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. Freely have you received, freely give.

REFLECTION:
Isaiah advises the Israelites to put their trust in Yahweh and not on human or earthly political powers.
At that time Israel was under attack from the Assyrians. Israel sought the help of Egypt, the rival political power.
Isaiah tells them not to be dismayed by these superpowers that were about to squeeze Israel. Salvation lay in trust in Yahweh.
Isaiah advises them to wait for the Lord to act. So it happened, Assyria,
under Sennacherib failed to conquer Jerusalem by an act of God (see 2 Kings 18-19).
In the fullness of time Jerusalem will have the King above all kings. Then, even the mighty like Herod the Great tremble!
The King of Israel, born in Bethlehem, will be a shepherd like the shepherds of Bethlehem.
He will be the Good Shepherd who would have compassion on the poor and the sick;
he will raise to life even the dead and reclaim from Satan the possessed. Moreover,
he will be a Good Shepherd who will call and send other shepherds who will be shepherds after his own heart.
When the world we live in seems to be enveloped in evil and we seem powerless it is good to remember
that though we may like Israel have our own share of “bread of anguish and the water of distress”
we can await in Faith for our Shepherd-King, Jesus!

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020