Isaiah 30:19-21, 25-26 / Matthew 9:35 - 10:1, 6-8
We are always attracted to this phrase: Free of charge! Of course we would rather be receiving it than to be giving it.
Indeed, we get a spurt of happiness whenever we get something free, and more so when it is something valuable.
As we think about it, let us also reflect about the free and valuable things that God has given us daily - the warm sunshine, the rain, the fresh air, the cool evening, the beautiful moon, etc.
Most of all, the life that is beating in our hearts and the love that we experience around us.
All these are certainly blessings from God. But what if God were to charge us for His blessings?
What if God were to charge us for the help He gave us, for the times He saved us from trouble and danger, for healing us when we were sick?
But God doesn't need our money nor does He want us to pay Him back anything.
God is all loving and generous and merciful and compassionate. Furthermore it is out of His great love for us that He created us in His image and likeness.
Jesus, the greatest gift from God wants us to know this and that is why He said in today's gospel: You received without charge, give without charge.
It is not just about the material blessings that we have received from God that we are called to share without charge with others.
Our greatest treasures are in our heart, and in there are the gifts of love, care, compassion, forgiveness, patience, understanding and all the blessings that God has given us free of charge.
Let us share these gifts and blessings without charge with the others around us.
That will be one way of preparing to celebrate Christmas, because at Christmas we celebrate the greatest gift of God.
We celebrate the gift of Jesus, who was given to us free of charge.