Take Nothing for the Journey

Take Nothing for the Journey

February 7, 2013

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them.  Hebrews 12:18-19

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts.  They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  Mark 6:7-9

Piety

We ponder, O God, your mercy within your temple.  Psalm 48:10

Study

Jesus sets down the rules for the mission and instructs his team to only take along the simple, bare necessities.  This does not seem prudent to a people like us who carry half a garage toolbox in the trunk of our car, backpacks stuffed with snacks onto every plane ride, and roof-top "snail" boxes because our mini-vans won't hold enough luggage for the weekend at the beach or ski trip.

Our pack-rat habits are probably "Emersonian" in nature.  He urged us to be self-reliant.  Jesus wants none of that.  Jesus wants us to be community reliant.  These disciples will rely upon the kindness of strangers -- holy hospitality -- in order to meet their basic needs.  Rather than being "walled off" in some remote Holiday Inn, these disciples will only be able to accomplish what they set out to do if they are immersed not in themselves but in the people around them and with the people around them.  Just like Jesus. 

Action

Consider your next trip -- be it around the corner, commuting to work, off to ski Round Top, or a jaunt to Myrtle Beach or the Keys.  Who will you take?  What will you pack?  How will you connect with the people you meet along the way -- not just staying electronically connected to your Facebook friends or your LinkedIn network? 

With too many electronic distractions, how can we ever be alive in the present moment to contemplate the awesome mystery that is God and His friendship with us?  How can we be alive to share that friendship and pass it along to others?

Certainly there is a risk in travelling light, just as there is a benefit.  What if we get a flat?  What if we forget our toothbrush?  What if we get lost without a GPS? 

Such risk is what John embraced.  Now the disciples are being asked to embrace risk as well.  Can you embrace the risk of being free from material goods to be able to focus on preaching the Word in your faith and action?