whatever house you are welcomed, stay there until you leave the place. If any place doesn’t receive you and the people refuse to listen to you,
leave after shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them.” So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent. They drove out many
demons and healed many sick people by anointing them. If any place doesn’t receive you and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after shaking
the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them.”
Lectio Divina:
READ: Jesus sent the Twelve in pairs to do mission. They are not to bring any
provisions. He also gave them instructions on how to behave while proclaiming
the good news. They set out and their missionary effort was a success.
REFLECT: Our gospel today is a template of how the early followers of the Lord
do mission. They work in pairs, depend on the generosity of people and go
with the barest provision. These are practical advices so that the focus is on the
mission at hand rather than the missionary. And to do away with hopping from
one benefactor to another, they have to stay in the house that first welcomes
them. This limits the possibility of competition among benefactors as to the
quality of their hosting and preserves the missionaries’ energy in focusing on
the mission rather than incurring favor from the benefactor. And lastly, they
are asked to make wise use of their energy. For those who would not accept
the good news, it is better to leave them and for the missionaries to move on
to more receptive communities.
RESPOND: The mission today evolved from mere proclamation of the good
news, healing of the sick and expelling of bad spirits. As the Church grows in
time, so is her understanding of mission expands. Although the proclamation
of the good news remains as valid today as it was before, human promotion, the
care for the environment and the pursuit of justice and peace are new areas of
mission. Perhaps we can choose what area most resonates with ourselves and
find ways and means to support it.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021