Many of us know what it feels like to move from one place to another—a new city, state, or even country. It can be a scary, risky, or lonely experience. We try to establish stability in this new place, and it often takes a great deal of effort. We all want to have one place we call home, where we belong. God often sends people on long journeys away from home to proclaim His Word. In the Gospel today, Jesus sends the twelve Apostles on mission to proclaim the kingdom. He commands them to leave home without any extra baggage—not even food! Surely they were intimidated by this command, and surely they felt lonely on their journey, whether they were on the road or staying in a foreign town. They probably spent many weeks, months, or even years without a sense of home—a sense of belonging. Why did Jesus put the Apostles in such a challenging position?
As disciples of Jesus, we must learn to rely on very few things. The Apostles only had two things to rely on—each other, and Jesus himself. They went out on mission together because we all need good friends in challenging times. They went out with the power of Christ’s Spirit in them, which allowed them to preach, heal, and drive out spirits. These two things were enough. The Apostles accomplished great tasks and returned rejoicing.
Sometimes Jesus allows us to lose things so we can learn how to rely more on him. It hurts when our security is stripped away, but it allows us to recognize that we only need two things: support from our fellow disciples, and the power of God working in us. With these, we can go anywhere and be at home because we are surrounded by our family—the Church, the saints, and the Holy Trinity.
Fr. Joe
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