THE SENT OF GOD

Christ took pity on the people.  They were harassed and dejected.  This is the image of the Church today.    

The Apostles were sent after they had proven they had learned the commands, persevered in obeying the commands and continuously pondered upon the commands.  Only then were they sent. 

The instructions were clear.   First, where to go -- only to the house of Israel.  Second, where not to go -- Gentiles and Samaritans.  Samaritans are those who accepted the five books of Moses but rejected others;  like Catholics who accept a few teachings of Christ and reject the more difficult ones.

Third, what to preach -- the kingdom of God is at hand.  The kingdom of God is here and will draw nigh if one obeys the commands of Christ.  The Saints are the kingdom of God because they contain God by Faith and love Him with affection.  They are not to preach any object of the senses.  Others preach earthly goods; we, the things of heaven.  Preach not old things but new things; and he who will preach new things must show new things (the new things Christ had taught.)

Fourth, what to do -- do new things.  Heal the sick, not so much the physically sick but the spiritually sick. . .they are the slothful who have not strength to live well.  Raise the spiritually dead.  Cleanse the lepers -- those filled with carnal desires.  Cast out demons. . .those under the power of the devil.  And, since spiritual gifts become worthless if acquired with money, Christ commanded them:  Freely you have received, freely you must give.  I, Christ, have given you all these without a price, give them to others in like manner.  To charge is to corrupt the free grace of God.  Judas, who was avaricious, was going to use the power to earn money. . .this is the heresy of simony.  Freely you have received; what you have is not yours.  You have received it freely.  The greatness of the deed is that these were done by mere fishermen. 

In the beginning of the Church, these powers were also shown in an external manner since this is what is seen.  But the external powers ceased when the Church became universal.  The Holy Church doth spiritually what it then did materially by the apostles.