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Scripture for Life: Jesus felt so deeply with the hungry people that he had to respond to them. In contrast to their woeful shepherds, he helped them get in touch with what their hearts desired.

In today's reading, the only task Jesus defined for the disciples was to drive out unclean spirits. Like them, our baptism commissions us to help others know the presence of God — in spite of situations and attitudes that obscure our vision of what God wants for our world.

It's not about fatigue or danger or age and endurance, writes Sr. Joan Chittister. It's about doing what we each need to do to help one another profit the whole country, the whole globe.

Scripture for Life: Jesus insists that God is reigning in the universe. He promises that we can get caught up in God's reigning if only we are open to do so. 

Scripture for Life: Laying on of hands for healing occurs numerous times in the New Testament. Interpretations associate this gesture with the transfer of power for physical and spiritual wholeness. In light of quantum physics, this is better understood as the transference of energy.

"I find working with youth and refugees very rewarding because both groups are eager to engage in training and are willing to learn from their peers," writes Sr. Zipporah Ngoiri Waitathu of Uganda. 

Scripture for Life: Today's Liturgy of the Word is a not-so-subtle call to live as a new creation. Instead of cowering in the storm, we can be people of the Resurrection — and discover how whirlwinds can blow us into deeper faith.

Scripture for Life: In Jesus' vision of God's reign, the measure of every action and relationship rests simply on how it fosters or impedes love and human thriving.