Nothing For the Journey

He left that place 

and came to his 

home town, and

 his disciples

 followed him. 

On the sabbath 

he began to teach

 in the synagogue,

 and many who 

heard him were 

astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man

 get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? 

What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this

 the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses

 and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And

 they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are

 not without honor, except in their home town, and among their 

own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of 

power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people

 and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. 

Then he went about among the villages teaching. 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. Mark 6:1-13

Driving on the highway today I saw several road signs telling us

to prepare for there was winter weather coming. It is winter in

New England. It snows regularly. It is cold and getting colder. 

We can prepare and plan ahead, yet life here, and in most 

places is often unpredictable. Each day is a journey, one of

both unexpected joy and challenging sorrows. We can take so

much with us, so many burdens and still be useless in the end.

Jesus goes home and finds his friends and neighbors reluctant

to recognize his gifts. They knew him too well to let him grow

into the role for which he was born. He does what he can and

then moves on to preparing his disciples for ministry. He sends

them out with nothing, so that they can learn to trust God and

one another as they go. They were blessed, over and over, by

being willing to live, day to day, for the blessing of others. We

are invited to drop all the burdens we lug around and which 

impede us from moving forward, so that we can see God

in action, and so that we can see God's blessing within us.

Today, as I journey forth, I ask God to help me put down

everything that is a barrier and to take on radical trust. May

we live each day by faith, caring for those around us and

trusting that we are never alone and blessed as we go out.