Thoughts for the Day

He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We come across the word 'authority' a lot in Mark's Gospel. He uses it 40 times, and in today's reading he says that Jesus gives authority to his disciples to heal, exorcise, and teach the people.

When I became the Vicar of two parishes (with three churches) in England the Bishop of Worcester conferred on me "the cure of souls, which is both mine and yours". What does this mean? Bishop Steven Croft in a blog once said: "The cure of souls we are given is, of course, for the whole parish. The term 'cure' means more than care (although all cure of souls is built on love).  At its centre is the ministry of reconciliation between individuals and God and between people and communities through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."

For me it meant the care of all souls in the parish (not just the congregation of the church), and covered pastoral care, preaching, prayer for the people, and teaching, among other things. This special authority started with Jesus sending out his disciples to work in all the nearby villages, and it continues today. It's not just priests who are called to go out into the community. All Christians are called to follow in Jesus' footsteps, and to carry out mission work, even in multi-cultural villages and towns. God calls each one of us to care for others, to pray for them, and to learn enough about our faith to pass the Good News of the Gospel and Kingdom on to others.

Lord Jesus,
You gave Your disciples authority
to preach, teach, heal and exorcise spirits,
and through Your Church
You give ministers the same authority
to continue the good work of the Kingdom.
You also call each of us to carry on Your work
in your world
by passing on the Good News of the Gospel,
and to care for all Your people.
So help us to take up the challenge
Amen.