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Homily On Mark 6:7-13
Jesus sent his disciples two by two on their journey with only their sandals,
one tunic and a staff. Not very much, is it? If I had been asked to go on a
journey with so little, I probably would have thought it impossible for me. And
yet, Jesus is telling us that it is possible.
There is so much more in the four things that Jesus told his disciples to bring
and it is no different in today's life. What is he really asking us to bring on
our life journey of great experiences, steep declines, wrong turns, and happy
surprises. Whether we are tired or energized, afraid or inspired, reluctant or
eager, we hopefully will open our eyes to something new every day.
The first thing Jesus asks us to do is to go two by two. He is reminding us, in
the gospel,to not do it alone. To make sure that we have good support as we
experience the ups and downs. Sharing the good times is as important as it is to
share the not so great times. We are not here alone in this life and we are
asked to reach out. Is it difficult to reach out? At times it is and Jesus
encourages us to still do so. He knew his disciples would face difficulties so
he sent them in pairs not only for safety but for companionship, encouragement
and help.So it is for us to not do it alone.
The tunic and the sandals are wonderful symbols. Jesus knew how heavy it is to
travel when wearing more than one tunic. How much do we carry on our shoulders
during our lifetime. Jesus asks us to not carry so much. Take off that extra
tunic. All the worries that we carry can bring us down. To hold on to them does
not change any situation but destroys the spirit in us. We are asked to let it
go. When Jesus said to "shake off the dust that is on your feet and off your
sandals" it is for us to shake off all the guilt that we carry every day. We are
asked to travel light and try not to take on everyone else's stuff, to not look
back.
In this life, we are asked to keep growing, maturing but when we are weighed
down and consumed by things that happen around us, our growth is held back. We
are asked to leave the fears, the guilt we might be carrying behind. For we have
only this moment and rehashing all that "could have been" and letting the guilt
of "I should have" will not allow that wonderful moment to happen. We are not
asked to fix everyone else's lives for they are on their own journey. How can we
stay grounded if we are living in a circle of "What if I had done this instead"
the circle can't enter the ground and it stops us from becoming rooted thus
keeping us from living a full, balanced life.
I am reading a book right now called "To Heaven and Back" by Mary C. Neal, MD.
It's about a physician who goes on a kayaking trip to Chile with her husband.
Her kayak tips over and she is stuck under water and dies. As people around her
try to revive her, she goes to heaven and is given some life changing messages.
She did come back to live and is now sharing some of her experiences.
I want to read to you something she wrote. "We are each given the opportunity
and privilege to come to earth for different reasons. Sometimes we come in order
that we may personally develop and strengthen the fruits of our spirit: those of
love, kindness, patience, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. Sometimes we come to help someone else develop the fruits of the
spirit. We all come to earth to become more Christ-like. In preparation for our
journey to earth, we are able to make a basic outline for our life. This is not
to imply that we, the humans, are entirely in charge of our life's design. It is
more like God creates it, then we review it and discuss it with our "personal
planning" angel. Within our life there are written branch points at which times
we may exit, returning to God, or we may be redirected to a different task and
goal. We may be directed to these branch points by our own conscious choice and
by our circumstances, or we may be pushed along by angelic intervention."As the
author said, we are not alone here on earth. We are reminded that we have help
during our life long experiences.
Jesus asked his apostles to bring a walking stick with them forit would help
them to keep moving when the terrain got tough or when they became tired/weary.
Jesus knew that we all are in need of help as we go through our life path. I
think Jesus would encourage us to forgive ourselves and not carry a lifetime of
guilt for we have done nothing wrong. We surely do make mistakes but isn't that
how we grow and change. There is a misplaced focus. The focus is to let the
light shine within and let the self-love happen. First have compassion for
yourself and then have it for others. When compassion comes about, then love
comes as well. Then all is possible.
Jesus knew that life's journey would not be easy for anyone. He left us with
guidelines to help us along. We are asked to drop off that extra tunic, not do
it alone and not look back but to keep going forward. Jesus said travel your
journey not solo but by two. It is for us to remember that God is with us
always, we are not alone. I have no words to describe the love God has for all
of us. Take it in and God bless.
Source: www.americanecumenicalchurch.com
See Also:
Sermons and Bible Commentaries for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost
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