Sunday, July 12, 2009

Take Nothing

This morning, my maternal grandmother and I went to the 8:30 a.m. Mass at my hometown parish, St. Alphonsus Church in McDonald, PA.

The Gospel at Mass included a commissioning by Christ of his apostles -- with some interesting instructions.

From Mark Chapter 6:

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. 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.

A Concord Pastor and Deacon Greg have posted their homilies on this Sunday's readings.

Powerful quote from Deacon Greg:

The gospel is meant to be lived on its feet -- taken to others, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. It is to be taken beyond places that are flat, and safe and comfortable, to deserts and mountains and plains, to places where you may find yourself tired, trudging, where the terrain may be rough and the hills steep. The trip won’t necessarily be easy.

But it is one we all are asked to take. It is the great adventure of living the Catholic Christian faith, and taking it into the world.

All you need are sandals. And a walking stick. And someone else to share the journey. Take nothing else. It is the journey itself, and the willingness to make that journey, that matters.

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