the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “Don’t take anything for the
journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and don’t even take a spare tunic.
Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they don’t
welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony
against them.”

So they set out and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and
healing people everywhere.

Reflect

I have been blessed to be able to travel widely in my life. I am notorious among my friends
for my ability to pack lightly. I can spend weeks on the road with nothing more than a small
suitcase and a backpack – and still have room for souvenirs. But I wasn’t always that way.
On my first big solo trip, I carried an enormous, overstuffed suitcase that I could barely
manage. My overpacking made it difficult to get around – and I didn’t use half of what I’d
brought.

In the Gospel, Jesus sends his apostles out on a mission of preaching and healing.
He cautioned them to pack light and take nothing extra. The same advice applies to our
spiritual lives as well. The more we are burdened with our own desires, prejudices, and
sins, the more challenging our spiritual journey will be. All we need is God – in his Word
and his sacraments. They will sustain us wherever we go, even to the gates of heaven.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023