#DAYLIGHT
– Daily #MenOfLight#GospelReflection
September
25, 2019
Wednesday
of the 25st Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel:
Lk 9: 1 - 6
Sharer:
Bro. Mike Lapid
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THE GOSPEL
He summoned the Twelve and gave them
power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and
he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]. 3 He
said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack,
nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. 4 Whatever
house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 And as for
those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from
your feet in testimony against them.” 6 Then they set out and
went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases
everywhere.
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REFLECTION
Take Nothing For the Journey
Our reading today is about Jesus who sends the twelve
disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God armed with authority over demons and
the power to heal. Jesus was practically giving his disciples some kind of an
immersion or an apprenticeship on the kind of work they would do in the future.
As a wise and experienced teacher himself, Jesus gives them instructions on their
initial missionary exposure.
As we read through Jesus’ instructions, we are surprised to
know how Jesus places so little importance on the basic provisions of his
disciples. He tells them to take nothing with them; no walking stick, no sack,
no food, no money, not even a tunic. He even suggests nothing fancy regarding
their lodgings. They just have to stay in a house they enter and then leave
from there. They would not have the luxury of choosing comfortable lodgings but
would simply take whatever was offered to them out of people’s hospitality.
Another important instruction was regarding rejection. Jesus
knew quite well that his disciples would be rejected as they proclaimed the
kingdom. Jesus, thus instructs them to shake off the dust from their feet when they
are rejected. This was to be a sign and a testimony against those who reject
them. Incidentally, the shaking of dust was also to be a way for the disciples
to move on and leave behind their emotional wounds. The disciples were to carry
no sack and no baggage and yes, – not
even a possible emotional baggage caused by such rejection.
As one reads this Gospel, one cannot help but wonder why
Jesus placed aside the importance of basic provisions like money and clothing. Perhaps,
we need to understand that when Jesus began preaching, he himself carried
nothing; no sack, no bag, no money. He didn’t have the benefit of feeling
secure with money. This made him vulnerable as he was exposed to the heat, the
rain and the cold; the lack of provisions made him experience hunger and thirst
as he moved from village to village preaching the good news; he himself at one
time said, that he had nowhere to lay his head to rest.
One also notices in this reading how Jesus somehow shrugs
off rejection. He must have experienced himself so much rejection and would
have realized that rejection became an integral part of proclaiming God’s
kingdom. This is perhaps why he doesn’t instruct his disciples to argue, debate
or fight endlessly with people who rejected them. Neither does Jesus teach his
disciples to condemn those who do not listen to them. Instead, he teaches his
disciples a simple gesture of shaking off the dust as a sign and a testimony to
the people’s rejection.
From this reading, we can draw out some important insights:
First, that the kingdom of God doesn’t put much reliance on
things like money and material resources. Jesus’ insistence “to take nothing
for the journey” is his way of saying that the kingdom will be proclaimed and
will grow without any dependence whatsoever from material goods particularly
money.
Second, the proclamation of God’s kingdom will meet
resistance and rejection. It will not all be smooth sailing; the disciple who
proclaims God’s kingdom needs to understand that rejection forms an integral
part of the mission.
Most important of all: this reading tells us that God’s kingdom
has so much power. God’s kingdom is so powerful that it can overcome demons and
suppress sickness and diseases. When Jesus sent his disciples, he gave them
this authority to drive demons and heal the sick. God’s kingdom can overcome
evil in all its forms. This power to vanquish evil is perhaps the reason why
Jesus had no need for any material support.
We who believe must then have this confidence in God’s
kingdom which has the power to overcome evil; evil that surrounds and affects
us; evil that somehow threatens peace in our life. And if we allow God’s
kingdom to rule over our life, then indeed, we really have no need of finding
our security and hope in our material
world. Jesus’ command to “take nothing for the journey” will teach us to trust
in God alone, and in him alone who is all powerful and almighty.
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PRAYER
Dear Jesus, when you tell me to take nothing for the
journey, you want me to stop relying on material things and begin believing in
the power of your word. Help me believe in the power of your kingdom Lord so
that all evil may be overcome with your goodness. Come heal me Lord. Heal my
mind, my heart and my soul. Amen.
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Assignment
1. Try going to a shopping mall with no money at all.
2. After, reflect on Jesus’ words: “ Take nothing for the
Journey.”
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Quote
Take nothing for the journey.
- Jesus
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