4 January 2016 - better hands

[ Today's Readings ]

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.

Do we trust Jesus enough to go where he calls us to go even if we don't feel prepared? 

The journey may be long. We may need food and money by the time we're done. We may really want a second tunic before this one starts to smell. We may really want a walking stick before our legs get tired.

If we don't trust Jesus enough we may spend so much time getting ready that we never answer his call to spread the good news. We may spend so much time getting our own house in order, learning the things we need to learn, or waiting until our relationships with others are just so that we never actually go out to confront the unclean spirits of our day.

We are given authority. And the world needs this authority. There are genuine demons in the world. And they require an exorcist to banish. But there are also lesser demons which we can command by virtue of the Holy Spirit who lives in us by our baptism. There lust, pride, and anger and all of the vices are all places where we can bring the healing power of Jesus to bear.

The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

But we can only do this if we trust him enough to rely on him. If we're fixated on what we need to get the job done we won't get it done. It's ultimately beyond our power. Even the prudential element of preparedness is something which God might call us to forego.

This is how we fulfill the mission. We acknowledge regardless of what we do or how we try it is ultimately only about what God does. We learn to commend all of our work into his hands.

I am going the way of all flesh.
Take courage and be a man.

We can't be the center because we can't be the change the world needs. Our human efforts eventually fade with time. We aren't even called to be successful ourselves. We are just called to be faithful.

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.

When we can entrust our progeny, our projects, and all of our works to the LORD we can rest assured that they are in better hands than ours.

In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.