July 12, 2009 15th Sunday, Year B
Disciples Who Trust
In today's gospel we find Jesus, after his rejection at Nazareth, directly involving his disciples in his
mission. Remember, that earlier he first called them as disciples to be fishers of people; and then later he
set them apart to receive authority to proclaim the message and to cast out demons. In today's reading,
Jesus specifically instructs them to exercise that authority.
The disciples are to travel in twos and take nothing with them except a staff. The staff has become a key
symbol of guidance and protection for Christians, and we still associate it with Jesus' ministry and its
continuance in the Church. Here in this gospel, we see Jesus explicitly instructing his disciples to carry
the staff. It is as if he is handing over complete trust and faith in them so that they can be active
participants in his ministry of teaching and healing.
However, they are not to take bread, or a bag, or money in their belts. In those days a money bag was
used to hold larger sums, while smaller amounts of money were held in a belt. Jesus makes it quite clear
they need no money at all. Whilst they are to wear sandals, they are not to put on two tunics. It is
interesting that Mark's version of this particular event is slightly different from Matthew and Luke's. Both
refer to Jesus telling the disciples not to take anything at all, including the staff, and not to wear sandals
or tunics. During these times in Palestine, only free men wore sandals; slaves did not have any footwear.
Perhaps the notion that these disciples were free men (not slaves) doing Jesus' work is an important
distinction that Mark wishes to emphasise.
Nevertheless, these instructions required great trust on the disciples' part. If they are not to take bread
or money, then they must expect to be fed. The themes of welcome and hospitality are central to this
gospel. Jesus is requiring much from these men who must put aside their own comfort, possessions and
pride so as to humbly accept the hospitality of strangers. "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until
you leave the place." The disciples are not to insult those who offer them hospitality by seeking more
comfortable accommodation elsewhere. At the same time, however, they are not to beg for such
hospitality. Indeed, if they are not made welcome, they are symbolically ''to shake off the dust that is on
their feet", and leave.
The disciples followed these instructions and did not let anything get in the way of their mission. In place
of their own desires and comforts, they exercised the authority given to them by Jesus. In all this, they
remained free men. They could have refused to be part of the mission Jesus called them to. But they did
not. As a result, Jesus' disciples successfully cast out many demons and anointed many with oil of healing.
As disciples in a contemporary world, what insights can we draw from this gospel? How ready are we
to forgo our own desires and comforts, to leave our pride behind, so as to be faithful to Jesus' ministry?
Jan Grajczonek
© Redemptorists 2009
**********************************************
Disciples Who Trust
In today's gospel we find Jesus, after his rejection at Nazareth, directly involving his disciples in his
mission. Remember, that earlier he first called them as disciples to be fishers of people; and then later he
set them apart to receive authority to proclaim the message and to cast out demons. In today's reading,
Jesus specifically instructs them to exercise that authority.
The disciples are to travel in twos and take nothing with them except a staff. The staff has become a key
symbol of guidance and protection for Christians, and we still associate it with Jesus' ministry and its
continuance in the Church. Here in this gospel, we see Jesus explicitly instructing his disciples to carry
the staff. It is as if he is handing over complete trust and faith in them so that they can be active
participants in his ministry of teaching and healing.
However, they are not to take bread, or a bag, or money in their belts. In those days a money bag was
used to hold larger sums, while smaller amounts of money were held in a belt. Jesus makes it quite clear
they need no money at all. Whilst they are to wear sandals, they are not to put on two tunics. It is
interesting that Mark's version of this particular event is slightly different from Matthew and Luke's. Both
refer to Jesus telling the disciples not to take anything at all, including the staff, and not to wear sandals
or tunics. During these times in Palestine, only free men wore sandals; slaves did not have any footwear.
Perhaps the notion that these disciples were free men (not slaves) doing Jesus' work is an important
distinction that Mark wishes to emphasise.
Nevertheless, these instructions required great trust on the disciples' part. If they are not to take bread
or money, then they must expect to be fed. The themes of welcome and hospitality are central to this
gospel. Jesus is requiring much from these men who must put aside their own comfort, possessions and
pride so as to humbly accept the hospitality of strangers. "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until
you leave the place." The disciples are not to insult those who offer them hospitality by seeking more
comfortable accommodation elsewhere. At the same time, however, they are not to beg for such
hospitality. Indeed, if they are not made welcome, they are symbolically ''to shake off the dust that is on
their feet", and leave.
The disciples followed these instructions and did not let anything get in the way of their mission. In place
of their own desires and comforts, they exercised the authority given to them by Jesus. In all this, they
remained free men. They could have refused to be part of the mission Jesus called them to. But they did
not. As a result, Jesus' disciples successfully cast out many demons and anointed many with oil of healing.
As disciples in a contemporary world, what insights can we draw from this gospel? How ready are we
to forgo our own desires and comforts, to leave our pride behind, so as to be faithful to Jesus' ministry?
Jan Grajczonek
© Redemptorists 2009
**********************************************
