Gospel

Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two

and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick

–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

He said to them,

“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,

leave there and shake the dust off your feet

in testimony against them.”

So they went off and preached repentance.

The Twelve drove out many demons,

and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Reflection

When Jesus sends his disciples out, he's not putting them in positions of authority as a power over people. But they come. They spend time with the family they're with. They are cared for by the family, and they in turn, care for the family by giving them the teaching, the truth. Life, light. It's a beautiful image of the oneness in everything that God has created for us.

Closing Prayer

Father, in this image of church, community of people feeding and nurturing one another is a beautiful image of how the church opens people to the need for repentance. A way of seeing what they've done, what they haven't done that has been contrary to their very nature, to what they want to be. There’s a regret in repentance that can be so gently shown to people and bring them into a life in light of God. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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