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Take Nothing for the Journey


#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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