Mark 6:7-13 NRSVue
7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
Lord, you warned the twelve against carrying anything they did not need. They
were to be counter-witnesses to possessiveness, retail therapy, and the
consumerism to which advertisements propel us. The more we have, the less we
are. The greatest treasure which the twelve carried with them was the good
news of Jesus.
Reflection
The message of the Lord is to travel light in the journey of life. Wealth,
desire for recognition and personal pride can stunt our desire for God and
our freedom to love and to do good. We are just passing through our world for
a short time; Jesus advises us to make the most of it for ourselves and for
others.
Reflection
Jesus sent his disciples to preach his kingdom with little other than their
dependency on him and on God. They were always pilgrims, with the sandals of
the wanderer. Following Jesus means becoming a bit of a wanderer, both
interiorly and, perhaps, externally. In our relationship with him and in our
knowledge of him we are never grounded and stuck but are always on the move
into new love and new knowledge. This is his gift to us, not just our
achievement.
Reflection
The power over unclean spirits that the Twelve are given is an extension of
Jesus' own power. The austere working conditions that Jesus lays down are
meant to signify that the Twelve are to trust in God and not on worldly
possessions if their mission is to be successful. Mark's Christians probably
had come to expect such austerity in their own missionaries as well.
Reflection
What might it be that holds me back from 'travelling lightly.' austerity in
their own missionaries as well.
Reflection
Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet, they were not to
be held back by those who are unreceptive or unwelcoming. I ask God to help
me not to let negative 'dust' cling to me and slow me down.