Then they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere. - Lk 9:6 Friends, God is good, all the time.
One thing Jesus did to prepare apostles before sending them to go and preach the good news was to transfer to them power and authority. The Lord was known and recognized for speaking with power and authority and having the authority over all-natural phenomena and illnesses. It is this power that he gave to the apostle.
You see, Jesus possessed a different kind of power and authority from what we often associate people with. Commenting on the gospel passage in which Jesus was described by the people as one who speaks with authority, Pope Francis mentioned that Jesus' teaching was "powerful in its gentleness, in its love, in the loving way the Lord looked at people." Whenever Jesus spoke to people his words exuded love, gentleness, and kindness, and the people noticed it.
So, when Jesus summoned the apostles and gave them power and authority to go out and proclaim the gospel, it was the same love, gentleness, and kindness that he presented to them to carry along and bring to the people. Today, Christians are summoned by the Lord and given the love, gentleness, and kindness of Jesus and sent to bring these to others.
Lord still sends us, and he expects that we go with his power and authority and bring to the needy world the same love, gentleness, and kindness. You see, as Jesus told the apostles to stay in the households that would welcome them, but leave the ones that would not receive them to their own disadvantage, even today, despite the massive opposition to the faith, there are those who recognize Christians who bring the power of Christ and quickly accept them. However, they sharply reject those whose authority is not from Christ. If we have been sent by Christ and given his power, then we should show love, gentleness, and kindness, and look at people with grace as Jesus did.
Prayer blessing: Father of all goodness, show us yourself to teach us how we may hold your hand in the hands of our brothers and sisters. Amen.