Tin mừng hôm nay Chúa Giêsu đã truyền cho các môn đệ của Ngài để ra truyền giáo nhưng không được mang gì theo người ngoại trừ cây gậy để bảo vệ “sói” dọc đường, Chúa Giêsu muốn tập cho họ biết đặt niềm tin vào sự Quan Phòng của Thiên Chúa và sự hiện diện của Chúa Thánh Thần. Chúa Giêsu muốn họ ra đi làm việc trong một cách nhẹ nhàng, không bị lệ thuộc, bị gò bó về vật chất, lệ thuộc về cái ăn, cái mặc. Mục đích của họ là rao giảng Tin Mừng của Chúa và Nược Trời.
Chúa muốn tất cả chúng ta cũng nên phụ thuộc vào Thiên Chúa một cách hoàn toàn, Chúa muốn chúng ta tín thác mọi sự nơi Thiên Chúa, Có lẽ quan niệm này đã quá cực đoan với chúng ta trong thời buổi hôm nay, nhưng có lẽ chúng ta nhất định cần phải đạt niềm tin tuởng vào sự Quan Phòng của Thiên Chúa nhiều hơn như các môn đệ. Chúng ta không thể kiểm soát tất cả mọi thứ hoặc có thể chuẩn bị cho tất cả mọi biến cố có thể xảy ra, cho chúng ta và chúng ta không cần phải bận tâm về những thứ vật chất ấy.
Lạy Chúa, Chúng con Tin Tưởng nơi Chúa, và xin hãy giúp và ban sức mạnh cho Lòng Tin yếu kém của chúng con..
When we go on a trip, we take everything that we think we will need. Often we take too much! Can you imagine going on a long trip with absolutely nothing? That is what Jesus commanded his disciples to do in that first mission. But they did have something — the Providence of God and the presence of the Spirit within them. Jesus wanted them to travel lightly and keep on the move, but most of all, to depend on God completely. This is probably too radical for most of us, but perhaps we can practice trusting in God’s Providence a bit more. We can’t control everything or prepare for all possible events, and we don’t need to do so.
We can place ourselves in God’s hands and step confidently forward to do His will. Let us journey each day with the most precious baggage of all - the faith in our hearts. Lord, help me to trust.
In sending out his Apostles to preach the Gospel, Jesus did not give them a detailed picture of what to expect or detailed instructions how to deal with every possible situation that might arise. He gave them some fundamental instructions, especially the instruction to travel as poorly as possible. Along with this vocation to poverty, however, he also gave them a great power: authority over unclean spirits. Healing, including liberation from unclean spirits was a major part of Jesus own ministry. This gift of power over unclean spirits, then, was a sign that everything they were to do was to be seen as part of his own mission. Involvement in that mission inevitably entailed an experience of poverty, for Jesus’ first work was to empty himself and come amongst us as a human being, born in poverty.
Though Mark does not say it specifically, they were to proclaim the Kingdom of God. They were not, however to try to force anyone to believe, they were to move on though somehow disassociating themselves from those who would not receive them.
Lord Jesus, in Your Church, the communion of saints, You have given us many gifts: faith, hope, love, prayer, wisdom and courage. Grant that we will always use Your gifts for the work of Your Kingdom and the good of Your people.
Why would Jesus instruct the Twelve to go forth to preach with authority but to take nothing with them on the journey? Most people who set out on a journey prepare ahead and make sure to pack what they need. Jesus’ instruction was not so much a lesson in relying upon others for basic needs as it was a lesson on reliance upon divine providence for their ministry.
The material world is good in and of itself. All creation is good. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with having possessions and using them for our good and for the good of those who have been entrusted to our care. But there are times when God wants us to rely more upon Him than upon ourselves. The story above is one of those situations.
By instructing the Twelve to go forth on their mission without bringing the basic necessities of life, Jesus was helping them to trust not only in His providence for those basic needs but also to trust that He would provide for them spiritually in their mission of preaching, teaching and healing. They were given great spiritual authority and responsibility and, for that reason, needed to rely upon the providence of God to a far greater extent than others. Thus, Jesus exhorts them to trust Him regarding their basic needs so that they will also be disposed to trust Him on this new spiritual mission.
The same is true in our lives. When God entrusts us with a mission to share the Gospel with another, He will often do so in a way that requires great trust on our part. He will send us forth “empty-handed,” so to speak, so that we will learn to rely upon His gentle guidance. Sharing the Gospel with another is an incredible privilege, and we must realize that we will be successful only if we rely wholeheartedly upon the providence of God.
Reflect, today, upon those to whom you sense God wants you to reach out to with the Gospel. How do you do this? The answer is quite simple. You do so only by relying upon the providence of God. Step out in faith, listen to His guiding voice every step of the way, and know that His providence is the only way that the Gospel message will be effectively shared.
My trustworthy Lord, I accept Your call to go forth and to share Your love and mercy with others. Help me to always rely upon You and Your providence for my mission in life. Use me as You will and help me to trust in Your guiding hand for the upbuilding of Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. Sharing in Divine Authority: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus has been manifesting his divine authority to his apostles. The four mighty works all show that Jesus has the power to conquer death and free us from the fear of death. Jesus now communicates his authority to the Twelve, who were appointed the leaders of the New Israel, the priests of the New Temple, and the officers of the New Kingdom of God. They were sent out with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, sandals, and a staff, which functioned also as a symbol of the authority they received from the Lord (Exodus 4:20). In the age of the Church, the apostles will appoint bishops, priests, and deacons who will minister to God’s people in various ways and be granted varying levels of authority. Bishops are ordained to teach, sanctify, and govern as the shepherds and overseers of God’s people (CCC, 1555-1561). Priests minister as the coworkers of the bishops (CCC, 1562-1568). Deacons are ordained for service, especially the service of charity (CCC, 1569-1571).
1. David Instructs Solomon: In the First Reading, King David gives his last will and testament to his son Solomon. David tells him to follow the mandates of the Lord as they are written in the Law of Moses. David also directs Solomon to punish David’s enemies and reward David’s loyal supporters (1 Kings 2:5-9). In his testament, David recalls the covenant oath that the Lord made about his kingdom enduring forever. The Lord God promised that if David’s royal sons were faithful, they would experience the blessings of the covenant. If they were unfaithful – and many of them were – they would trigger the curses of the covenant and be chastised.
What kind of authority and power does the Lord want you to exercise on his behalf? Jesus gave his apostles both the power and the authority to speak and to act in his name. He commanded them to do the works which he did – to heal the sick. to cast out evil spirits, and to speak the word of God – the good news of the gospel which they received from Jesus. When Jesus spoke of power and authority he did something unheard of. He wedded power and authority with self-sacrificing love and humility. The "world" and the "flesh" seek power for selfish gain. Jesus teaches us to use it for the good of our neighbor.
Why does Jesus tell the apostles to "travel light" with little or no provision? "Poverty of spirit" frees us from greed and preoccupation with our possessions and makes ample room for God's provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves. He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory. Are you ready to use the spiritual authority and power which God wishes you to exercise on his behalf? The Lord entrusts us with his gifts and talents. Are you eager to place yourself at his service, to do whatever he bids you, and to witness his truth and saving power to whomever he sends you?
"Lord Jesus, make me a channel of your healing power and merciful love that others may find abundant life and freedom in you. Free me from all other attachments that I may joyfully pursue the treasure of your heavenly kingdom. May I witness the joy of the gospel both in word and deed."
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