In today's Gospel, we witness Jesus sending out the Twelve on a mission. “Send them out” is an action phrase. It means to move; it means to go. It means to leave a place or depart. Jesus didn’t say let’s stay here in our tent and preach repentance and care for the sick. He sent them out to enter houses and if they weren’t welcome, then leave.
Jesus tells us the same. He sends us out on mission.
Jesus does not say for us to sit in our homes and preach repentance.
Jesus does not say for us to watch ESPN or Fox News or CNN all day long and care for the sick.
Jesus does not say for us to stay hooked on social media all day and visit prisoners.
Jesus does not say just to sit in our pews and make disciples.
He sends us out. And when he sends us out, he sends us for our presence. He sends us to engage. We don’t need a whole lot to be present for someone, except for maybe our Bible. Jesus instructs the Twelve today to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts. They are to rely entirely on God’s providence and the hospitality of those they encounter.
Jesus’ command to the disciples to travel light is not just practical advice for their journey. It is a profound spiritual lesson. We humans are often weighed down by our attachment to ego, possessions, control, power, and sometimes even violence. These attachments can hinder our ability to fully embrace the mission to which Jesus calls us. The mission of the Twelve is a call to each of us. We are all sent by Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to bring healing and hope to a world in need. But to do this effectively, we must first let go of the burdens we carry.
Our ego, which demands recognition and praise, can obscure the humble service that Jesus models. Our possessions, which promise security, can prevent us from trusting fully in God's provision. Our desire for control and power can lead us to rely on our strength rather than on the power of God’s Spirit. And our inclination towards violence, whether in thought, word, or deed, contradicts the message of peace and love that Jesus embodies.
Jesus calls us to embrace the cross, to let go of these burdens. By doing so, we unburden ourselves of the human ego and open ourselves to the power of God’s heavenly command. This is not an easy task. It requires daily surrender and a willingness to trust in God’s plan over our own.
When the disciples followed Jesus' instructions, they cast out many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and healed them. Their mission was successful not because of their power or resources, but because they relied on God. They were channels of God's grace because they emptied themselves of ego and self-reliance.
Let us ask ourselves: What are the things we need to let go of? What burdens do we need to lay down at the foot of the cross? Let us embrace the simplicity and trust that Jesus calls us to, so that we too may be instruments of God’s healing and peace in the world.
May we go on our mission, unburdened by our human ego, and filled with the power of God’s heavenly command, just as the Twelve did.
