Am 7:12-15
Eph 1:3-14 or 1:3-10
Mk 6:7-13

Discipleship

The readings for Sunday call us to spread the gospel in our communities. In the first reading Amos explains that he is a prophet because that is what God has called him to do, not to do something to benefit himself. In the gospel, Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs to preach and heal taking with them only what is necessary.

Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, gave them authority over unclean spirits and had them share what they learned from him. They were to make Jesus known to others. They were ordinary people who were not famous or well educated. They were not rich or successful in business. They were simple people given an important task.

Jesus sends the disciples in pairs, establishing his mission as a communal endeavor. Jesus continues to send us into the world as his disciples. Just as the early disciples were sent in pairs, we are not sent alone. We have the church, the entire Christian community with us. The Christian message can only authentically be proclaimed in and through the community of faith that is the Church. It is up to us to build our community of faith. Our discipleship calls us to invite others to share in it.

Jesus told the disciples to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick, no food, no sack, no money in their belts. This is truly living simply. Today we live in a different kind of society where the norm is to do without nothing. There are ways, however, to live simply without having the latest tech toy or the most fashionable style of clothing. There is a big difference between what we really need vs what we want. This gospel might be a call to look at our homes to see what is superfluous and what we truly need and use. This may be a good time to donate what we don’t need to the poor. This is part and parcel of being a disciple of Jesus.

What is your attitude toward simple living? 

How do you view others who live simply? 

How you can simplify your life.