9 July, Thursday — Pursued by God, Sent in Love

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we welcome Jessica, a wife and mother of three, who sometimes overthinks to the point of inertia and who has learned that there is great joy in surrendering everything to the Lord. During her children’s school years, she had a habit of accidentally forming small communities of parents. Throughout the different seasons of family life, these “tribes” have become some of her life’s greatest blessings, reminding her that faith often grows deepest when it is shared with others. Writing these reflections gives her the space to sit in deeper conversation with God, and she hopes that by sharing them with you, you too, will hear Him speak to your heart.

Thursday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time

Hos 11:1-4,8-9
Mt 10:7-15

“You received without charge; give without charge”

Today’s first reading reveals to me the tenderness of a God who does not give up on us. It shows me a God who pursues us, who loves us faithfully and tenderly, even when we wander far from Him. A God who refuses to abandon His people. And this theme of loving pursuit seems to continue for me in today’s Gospel.

When I was younger, this Gospel passage would fill me with so much zeal and enthusiasm. Jesus sends the apostles out with nothing; no gold or silver, no bag for the journey, only trust in God’s providence. They are sent to proclaim the Good News, heal the sick, and bring peace wherever they go.

I found this deeply inspiring. And I wanted so badly to be like these apostles.

I wanted to share Christ with others, to listen to friends in their struggles, to volunteer where I could, to bring hope, encouragement, and God’s love in whatever small ways I could. And when faced with rejection, I would remember Jesus’ words to “shake the dust from your feet” and move on.

For years, when I read this Gospel, I focused almost entirely on the apostles and what they were called to do; to proclaim, heal, and trust completely in God. But sitting with these readings today, many years removed from my youth, I find myself noticing something different.

I realise that while I was inspired by the apostles being sent, I had perhaps overlooked something equally important: apostles had also been sent to me.

The tenderness of God in the first reading suddenly becomes very personal.

I think of the people God placed in my life — family members, teachers, priests, friends, mentors, missionaries, and even strangers. I think of all those who encouraged me, prayed for me, corrected me, listened to me, accompanied me, and quietly brought healing and peace when I needed it most.

I think of the missionaries who came to our shores, building schools, orphanages, and hospitals, bringing education, care, and faith to generations.

And through all of this, what I now see is a God who pursues.

What I now see is a God who does not give up, a God who pursues us with tenderness, sending people into our lives to seek us out, to remind us we are loved, and to bring healing, peace, and the Good News whenever we falter.

For the God of today’s readings is not distant or indifferent, but one who waits, feeds, and gently draws near, stooping down, as the prophet Hosea tells us, to lift us close against His cheek.

And I am reminded that before we are apostles, we are first beloved children. Before we are sent, we are first gathered in. Before we can heal, we ourselves must first allow God to heal us.

My dear brothers and sisters, perhaps the invitation today is not only to ask, “Lord, where are You sending me?” but also, “Lord, am I allowing myself to be loved by You? Am I allowing myself to be found? Am I welcoming those You send into my life to love, guide, and draw me closer to You?”

Because it is only when we learn to receive without charge, often through the people God lovingly sends into our lives, that we learn how to give without charge. Only when we have allowed ourselves to be pursued by God do we begin to understand how to go forth like the apostles in the Gospel.

“You received without charge; give without charge.”

For before He sends us, He meets us where we are. Before He asks us to love, He loves us first.

Brothers and sisters, how blessed are we to be pursued by God and sent in love by Him!

(Today’s OXYGEN by Jessica Letchamanan)

Prayer: Loving God, You never tire of seeking us, even when we wander far from You. Open our hearts to recognise the people You send into our lives, the ones who guide, encourage, correct, heal, and remind us that we are loved. Teach us to receive Your love with humility and trust, so that having received freely, we too may go forth to love, serve, and bring peace to others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thanksgiving: Lord, we thank You for the many ways You have pursued us. Thank You for the people You have sent into our lives — family, friends, teachers, priests, missionaries, and quiet companions on the journey of faith — who revealed Your care and brought us closer to You. Thank You for never giving up on us, for finding us when we falter, and for loving us into the people You call us to become. May what we have freely received, we freely give. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.