Try To Travel Light

Jesus sent out the 12 Apostles, two by two,
to teach people everywhere about God.
He told them not to take food, extra clothes or even money, but to depend on people along the way to help them out. The Apostles went off and taught, and cured many sick people.

How hard is it for you to leave the house quickly? Some kids (and adults) always run back for the things they forgot: a sweatshirt, an iPod, a Gameboy, a snack. 

By the time you actually get into the car, you're loaded down with stuff. Maybe that's why the message of this week's Gospel (Mark 6:7-13) is, "Travel light!" 

In the Gospel story, Jesus is sending the Apostles out to teach people about God. It's their first time, so they're probably nervous. They must want to be well-prepared so everything goes smoothly - and of course, they want to impress Jesus, too. 

But Jesus doesn't want them to bring notes on His teachings, extra food so they're always energized to teach about God, or even money! That's like a kid leaving the house without an iPod, Gameboy, snack or camera: All you can think is, "But what am I going to DO?"

Traveling light means noticing the world. You're not looking at a screen or zoning out with music, so you have to look outside and talk to people you're with. You're not eating the same foods you always eat at home, so you have to find new things.

For the Apostles, traveling light meant meeting even more people. They couldn't stay at an inn or go out to dinner, so they'd have to spend more time with the people they were teaching. That was Jesus' point: Leaving home isn't supposed to be about doing exactly what you do at home. Your iPod will always be there, but the people you're with right now won't be. 

Besides, look at the great results the Apostles got when they took Jesus' advice!

(07/09/09)