Thoughts for the Day

Jesus 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

The advice in Britain from the the RNLI (Royal Naval Lifeboat Association) to someone who falls into deep water, is to float! It's to lie back with your head flat on the water's surface, bring your bottom and feet up and lie there with arms outstretched. This way you conserve your strength until help can arrive. Of course the one thing you really don't feel like doing is to lie back so that the water can splash over your face. If you've ever tried to teach a small child to swim in the sea you will know that as their head and shoulders go back, their bottom goes down, and disaster lies that way! Ultimately you simply have to trust that your teacher is right, and try to float! The only exception where everyone floats is in the Dead Sea, where because of the salt it's hard to put your feet down and stand up, which is most disconcerting.

In the Gospels we see that Jesus has chosen twelve disciples, and he will work with these for the next three years. We may wonder why he is sending them out so soon after calling them from their humble workplaces. But the incident in today's reading from Mark's Gospel is all about trust! First, the disciples are sent out in two's and will need to trust in one another if they get into trouble or are in danger. Second, they will need to trust to the sacred rule of hospitality that applies in the East, whereby a stranger is automatically offered shelter and food since the the disciples carry no provisions. Thirdly, they must trust in the power that Jesus has given to them.

We can do no less than to learn such lessons of trust as members of the Christian community, and particularly to trust in the power of the Spirit.

Spirit of God,
teach us to trust in Your power
that helps us work together as christians.
Teach us to trust in Your power
that helps us to spread Your Kingdom in the world.
Teach us to trust in Your power
at work in our life this day.
Amen.