Suggestions

The health care debate in the United States has reached the point where politicians on each side are claiming that politicians on the opposite side (at least implicitly) wish to facilitate the deaths of their constituents.

Today’s Gospel (Luke 10:1-12) has many valuable guidelines for disciples of Christ. Here are just three that are especially valuable for people interested in speaking truth in an uncertain world.

First, begin by wishing people well.

Into whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.

Second, while most people are more-or-less open to what we have to say, there are extremists who are not: people who will not listen at all.

We should say the Truth that must be said and then move on.

Whatever town you enter
and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.’

Finally, we cannot do everything: we need to pray for help.

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.