We live in a world where most things in life are no longer free. For example, food, clothing and many other essential things we need to survive are not free. Education, especially if we want to attain higher education, is not free. Even in our relationships, many of us love or like another because of some reason, such as the other is good or kind to us, or the other has certain attributes we like, or even because the other is useful in one way or another. We seem to expect and give at some cost, but as Christians, what sort of way of living should we strive to follow?
In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us: “Without cost,
you have received; without cost you are to give.” Jesus
lives this teaching because He did many things; including curing the sick, letting the
blind see, expelling demons, feeding the hungry with His words and material
food; restoring the dead to life; cleansing the lepers and so on; all these without asking for any payment. Some of us may think that Jesus could do all these things and much more since He is God; but if we think about it for a moment, could we not do the same? After all, we call ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ, and so we should follow His example in the way He lived. Are we willing to receive and give without cost; and for all things give God the glory?