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Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13
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.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
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The disciples must have felt superhuman, as Jesus gives them the power of his Spirit. As the Gospel tells us, they’re able to cast out demons and heal the sick at the drop of a hat!
But there’s only one problem – they’re not allowed to take anything else with them on their journeys.
As powerful as they may be, they’ll feel the twinge of hunger and the pangs of thirst within a matter of hours. By day’s end, they’ll also need a place to sleep.
The disciples cannot survive on their own; humanly speaking, the Spirit will not be enough.
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Herein lies a lesson from Jesus for them – and for us.
Self-reliance is a myth; no one can make it through life alone.
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Just as the disciples will need a helping hand to find food, shelter, and encouragement, so we all need friends to love and support us along the journey of life.
Hasn’t COVID reminded us of that?
Being denied the grace of in-person visits reminds us just how necessary human interaction is. We’re relational beings, who must find creative ways to stick together.
How much has COVID isolated me? Have I made the effort to stay connected with friends, reaching out to the lonely? Or should I be more proactive?
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“Take nothing for the journey,” Jesus says.
Rather, look for people of good will along the way, because friendship doubles your joys and divides your sorrows.
***
