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 gave 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.
There’s only one problem: they’re not allowed to take anything with them for the journey.
As powerful as they may be, they’re still human; they’ll feel the twinge of hunger within a matter of hours, and by day’s end, will also need a place to stay.
Palestine could be terribly cold at night.
Jesus structured their mission this way, teaching them that they cannot survive on their own; like us, they’ll need the help of neighbors.
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What a hard lesson to learn at times: self-reliance is a myth. No one can make it through life alone.
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Just as the disciples needed to find food, shelter, and encouragement, so we all need support along the journey of life.
How am I a friend for others? And who is that friend for me?
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“Take nothing for the journey,” Jesus says.
Instead, look for ways to share your life with others.
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Image credits: (1) Fritz von Uhde: Journey to Bethlehem 1890 (2) Two by Two – Ahead of Himself, Kingdom Harbor (3) Transforming Life Ministries
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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If you walked into my office this morning, you’d probably notice a large crucifix hanging on the wall, a framed picture of Jesus and the Apostle John, and a few family photos.
But one object that often catches people’s attention is a 12-inch Spiderman figurine, standing proudly on one of my bookshelves.
First-time visitors often ask, “Father, what’s that doing in your office?”
“Spiderman reminds me of Jesus,” I tell them.
Like Jesus, Spiderman went around doing good. As far as I remember, he had a servant’s heart.
But like Spiderman, Jesus had one great limitation: he could only be in one place at a time.
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In today’s Gospel, for example, Jesus is headed to heal the synagogue official’s daughter. While on the way, a woman who’s been hemorrhaging for the last twelve years touches the tassel of his cloak and, instantly, she’s healed.
Meanwhile, countless others are suffering from leprosy, illness, possession, or have children at home lying sick in bed.
Wouldn’t the world have been a better place if Jesus could’ve been in two places at once?
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Through us, now he is.
Although we may not raise children from the dead like Jesus did, we can still wipe the tears of those who weep, fill empty stomachs, visit the lonely, forgive those who trespass against us, heal the sick, and inspire others to lead holy lives.
Unlike Spiderman, who was confined to his earthly body, you and I are now the Body of Christ on earth.
So, how might we continue Jesus’ ministry of hope and healing today?
Can we dream of the day when the sun returns and melts all of the snow? Can we imagine the ribbon cutting ceremony we’ll have in the Spring once our playground and basketball court have been installed?
Can we imagine children running around outside without a care in the world while their parents swap stories over a cup of coffee from the SPX café?
It sounds so nice to me.
And thankfully, those days are coming soon.
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This dream that children have a safe place to pray and play with role models to look up to is nothing new. But it’s a beautiful thing when it happens.
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Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint John Bosco, who shared a similar dream.
John wanted children to grow up in a safe and loving environment. He wanted them to dream about their future, to know that God had a plan for them, and to know they had the skills and talent to make anything happen.
What’s particularly inspiring about John’s story is the fact that he served underprivileged youth throughout his ministry, giving those who were abandoned a place to call “home.”
By the end of his ministry, he changed thousands of lives for the better.
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John was like a tiny mustard seed, planted in the soil of northern Italy. With hard work and grace, he transformed an entire community.
When I think about what God did through him, I begin to wonder, “Now why not us?”
