Often, when we listen to the Gospel, we hear about Jesus doing marvellous things. When people are sick, Jesus makes them well. When people get pushed and pulled by unclean spirits, Jesus makes them clean and still again. When people need to hear more about the Kingdom of God, Jesus tells them. In the Gospel for this Sunday, though, Jesus does not do any of these things at all.
Jesus called the twelve
Jesus has twelve very close friends. We call these twelve friends his "apostles." Apostles are people who get sent out to do something.
and began to send them out two by two
Aha! Jesus sends the apostles! We wonder what he sends them to do. Jesus sends them "two by two" which means each apostle has a buddy. They go out together. No one is alone.
Jesus gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Jesus is the one who has the strength to make people calm and still again when they are pushed and pulled by unclean spirits. When things go wrong inside a person, it is Jesus who makes them right. But now, Jesus shares his strength. He gives the apostles the strength to make people calm and still and right.
The apostles need to take two things. Listen for them:
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.
A staff and sandals. We know that we wear sandals on our feet. With sandals instead of bare feet, the apostles can walk for a long time. But what is a staff? A staff is like a walking stick. It is something that a shepherd carries to keep the sheep safe.
The Good Shepherd has a staff. There is a prayer in the Holy Bible that says,
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
The sheep are not afraid when it is dark because the Good Shepherd is always near. The sheep feel safe because the Good Shepherd has his staff to keep away anything scary. Unclean spirits? No problem for the Good Shepherd. He has his staff.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd shares his staff with the apostles. Jesus makes them shepherds, too. Just like Jesus, they will make sure that sheep are safe. We wonder who these sheep might be.
What do the apostles do when they get sent out with a staff and sandals?
So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
When people need to hear more about the Kingdom of God, the apostles tell them.
They cast out many demons,
When people are pushed and pulled by unclean spirits, the apostles make them clean and still again.
and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
When Jesus shares his strength and his staff—when he sends the apostles out—the apostles do marvellous things, just like Jesus.
The Good Shepherd shares with the apostles so that all the sheep are cared for.
He must love those sheep so much.
We wonder, who are these sheep, and will he send out more shepherds for them?
Comments