Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away." said Holy Job. How many times have we been reminded of God's sovereign authority over our lives with those words.
In today's Gospel we hear the Lord giving the Twelve astonishing authority. They will drive out demons, heal the sick, and proclaim the Kingdom of God. With the first two they will demonstrate their authority; and when they announce the Kingdom of God, everyone will understand what that power means and where it comes from. The Kingdom of God is upon these missionaries! And it is upon those of us who welcome them.
But the Lord also takes away. In this gospel Jesus strips his travelling missionaries of everything a traveler needs: a walking stick, food, a leather sack for drink, and a change of clothes. These powerful men and women will be visibly impoverished and needy. And those who welcome their healing authority will have to respond by sharing from their resources, which might not amount to much. The Lord's missionaries will be like one who has nowhere to lay his head.
That teaching has never been lost to the Church, as the Acts of the Apostles clearly shows. Saints Peter, John, Barnabas and Paul hurried from city to city and town to town, and then throughout the Mediterranean Basin, and never seemed to use money as they went. How did they eat? Or book passage on a ship? Or stay overnight? It was just provided. Saint Luke doesn't even mention those matters. They were taken care of.
Nor did they have too much. We know from his epistles that Saint Paul urged his churches to support the Church in Jerusalem with a collection of money because the region had been struck by famine. But he did not handle the money, or take it to Jerusalem. He avoided any appearance of misdoing.
So, at Jesus' insistence, we have this powerful witness in the Church. Those who announce God's kingdom by word and deed, by prayers and sacraments, must rely on the generosity of others. If they are not poor, they should be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.