Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Take Nothing for the Journey



"And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God, who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place; thus our God has brightened our eyes and given us relief in our servitude.  Ezra 9:8

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. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Luke 9:3-5

Piety

(And now, for some true “liturgical” music on today’s theme)

Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now

(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry

(By Bobby McFerrin)

Study

“Take nothing for the journey.”

Jesus was being literal and direct, just like the prophet Ezra.  Think about the context of the first reading before you think in historical and personal context about the Gospel.

According to the notes in the New American Bible Introduction to the Book of Ezra, the prophet “is sometimes accused of having been a legalist who gave excessive attention to the letter of the law.”

His work, however, should be seen and judged within a specific historical context. He gave to his people a cohesion and spiritual unity which helped to prevent the disintegration of the small Jewish community settled in the province of Judah. Had it not been for the intransigence of Ezra and of those who adopted his ideal, it is doubtful that Judaism would have so effectively resisted Hellenism in later centuries. Ezra set the tone of the postexilic community, and it was characterized by fidelity to the Torah, Judaism’s authentic way of life. It is in this light that we can judge most fairly the work of Ezra during the Restoration.[i]

Think about the spiritual unity among the apostle when they took nothing for the journey.  They would rely upon God, each other and the community to provide everything. Those who adopt this “ideal” of Jesus, remove many of the material obstacles to God’s friendship.  Jesus sets the tone for the life he knows will confront the community when he is gone.

Jesus obviously was not talking to workaholic, shopaholic, obsessive-compulsive Americans.  Think about the last time you left the house for work or school or any short trip.  Did you remember your car keys before walking out the door?  Did you pack a lunch?  Did you bring something to read on the bus or the train?  Commuters need a Metro or VRE card, too.  Did you carry gas money or parking money or Starbucks “bucks” or Apple Pay (or a phone or app to do that)?  Did you remember your work ID, CAC, PIV or other card? Did you pack your homework or overnight assignment into a backpack, briefcase, purse or other carry-all that was packed with the standard items you carry every day (pens, paper, charging cords, a book or two? 

Today’s passage tells us of the absolute detachment from material possessions that is required of the disciple.  Such material poverty leads to leads a true disciple to Fully Rey On God as explained further in Luke 12:22-31 which begins: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear.”

Don’t worry.

Be happy in God’s hands.

Action

You get the idea.  Imagine being sent on a longer mission like the disciples.  Consider what you pack when you move (you take everything for the journey) or when you go on vacation (You take everything to make you feel like home away from home). 

How many iPads/tablets did your family take on its last vacation – two, three, four, more?  How about phones? One (or more) per person – after all you have to keep the work and home call we separate.

Go out today (if you dare) by taking nothing for the journey.

PS: Did you shut off the irony?

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