The Poisonwood Bible.
It’s a strange title, isn’t it? The Poisonwood Bible.
It’s a story about a family from my home state of Georgia. The father, Nathan, is a Baptist minister whose community has decided he will serve as a missionary in central Africa.
And like the disciples in today’s Gospel, his church believes in the importance of not ministering alone; so Nathan is being sent with his entire family.
Before they go, their friends warn them that there’s a weight limit at the airport; each person can only bring forty-four pounds of luggage.
So the four daughters, ages 5 to 16, rush to their rooms and start putting on as much of their clothes as possible – several pairs of socks, six dresses each, cake mix buckled around their waists, all covered by thick outer coats.
Even so, when they arrive at the airport, the family is a total of sixty-one pounds over weight! Slightly embarrassed, they begin digging through their suitcases, deciding what items are essential versus what can be left behind.
This gesture of removing items from their suitcase points to something deeper… something they – and maybe we –all need to do.
***
In the Gospel, Jesus sends the Apostles out on their first missionary journey. And they are instructed to take nothing with them – no food, no cash, no suitcase. Not even a change of clothes.
All they have is the Word of God.
***
Why does Jesus insist on such extreme poverty?
First and foremost, it lends credibility to their message. The Apostles are driving out demons and curing the sick. And they’re doing it all for free, proving they’re not looking to get rich; they’re looking to save souls.
They don’t want people’s money; they want them to believe.
Secondly, Jesus wants the Apostles themselves to grow in trust. Not knowing where their next meal will come from or who will shelter them that night tests their faith; it challenges them to believe that God will provide for their every need.
And he does – day after day – through the hands of strangers or newly converted Christians. Thus the Apostles see our faith at work; when they’re in need, someone’s there to help.
***
“Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey.”
Though we’re not missionaries like the Apostles – or even the Price family in The Poisonwood Bible– the Gospel still challenges us to consider what things we need to leave behind.
On the surface, we may have some extra clothes or food that we can donate. And while that’s certainly important, let’s dig a little deeper.
***
What weighs me down?
Am I carrying a grudge that I’ve nursed for too long? Am I refusing to forgive those who’ve hurt me?
Am I carrying the weight of a sin that never seems to go away? Do I struggle to trust God or worry about my future?
What do I need to get rid of?
***
“Jesus instructed them to take nothing for the journey.”
No food, no cash, no suitcase. Not even a change of clothes. All they had was the Word of God – and the belief that their every need would be provided for.
In a similar way, there may be things we need to let go of – thoughts, feelings, or sins that weigh us down.
Jesus challenges us to let them go today. We will only be happier if we do.
As he himself says, “Come to me all you who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28).