Learn to win and to loose, to succeed and to fail!

Matthew 10:7-15

7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give. 9 Take no gold nor silver nor [even] copper money in your purses (belts); 10 And do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food). 11 And into whatever town or village you go, inquire who in it is deserving, and stay there [at his house] until you leave [that vicinity]. 12 As you go into the house, give your greetings and wish it well. 13 Then if indeed that house is deserving, let come upon it your peace [that is, freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin]. But if it is not deserving, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Food for the soul!

Yesterday, Jesus chose his team. He is the team leader, he guides it, he gives them instructions. Under him, the team of ordinary people became a team of extraordinary people. As we said yesterday, Jesus chose these men, not only for what they were, but also for what they were capable of becoming under his influence and guidance. Yes, under Jesus you and I can become different and can make a difference in the world. The question is, do you see yourself different, and are you making any difference around you?

Today's gospel reading shows us how very ordinary people like you and me became different and made difference in the world. Their secret was in their instructor; their secret was Jesus. Before they succeeded in the WORLD, they first succeeded in listening to the WORD of Jesus.

Jesus warns us to expect both success and failure in our endeavours. Whatever comes, and whenever it comes take it. If success comes your way, take it; if it is failure take it and move on; don't hold on your past successes or failures; keep going forward. Jesus is teaching us that problems and failures are inevitable in the life of anyone who seeks to make a difference in life. Even with all instructions from Jesus, even with all academic degrees and titles, even with all experience, we are bound to fail sometimes. And Jesus knows it. That's why he teaches his disciples not only how to win but also how to loose. 

Jesus is saying to us, when we loose, not to dwell too long on the loss and allow it to rob our lives of enthusiasm and joy. So we must learn to shake off the dust of yesterday’s failure from ourselves, otherwise it will cling to us and stop us from moving on. The result is depression and despair, and giving up on life and living. Let's move on to new village, to new project, to new opportunities. 

And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet.