"He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts." – Mark 6:8
When we go on a trip, maybe a vacation to the mountains or beach, we pack our bags and bring the appropriate clothes for the destination. When I was a child and we'd travel from New York to Florida to spend time with my grandparents, mom would often prepare snacks, sandwiches or a meal to eat on the road. She was a planner and often had each day and activity detailed. My Dad had the route on a map or trip tik (if you remember what those were) in case it was needed. The car was packed in just the right order.
Mark's Gospel this weekend has Jesus doing things a bit differently when sending the disciples into the world to spread His Word. Instead of the disciples packing food, clothes and making preparations for housing at a local inn, He said, "take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - no food, no sack, no money." Our Lord wanted to teach a lesson to His followers that God will take care of all their needs regardless of the circumstances. The even deeper lesson is that we should not let worldly distractions or personal wants get in the way of doing the work of the Lord.
We might say to ourselves, when tasked with volunteering for a ministry in the church, "Well, I'd like to, but I just don't have the time. Or, I have to take care of this or that." Or perhaps, "I'm not as talented as others. I don't have the ability or the means." But, our Lord tells us to "Go." We shouldn't worry about all the reasons why we can't do something. Trust in God and that He will never ask us to do something unless He gives us what we need to accomplish it.
He calls us to do His work on earth, and by submitting to His will, God will take care of all our needs. Does it take trust and courage? It certainly does. Will we at times face doubt, rejection and even persecution? Probably. But God gives us the strength to persevere if we only let Him. That's what we are called to do—to courageously live the Gospel in all circumstances, sharing the Good News wherever He leads us.
Pray for the boldness and courage to go forth today and allow Him to lead you on the right path and to invite others to come along on the journey.
Today's Reflection is by:
Bishop Gregory Parkes
Did you know...
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa's banking industry.
