Our Gospel today is similar to the Gospel reading we heard from Luke last Sunday, with Jesus telling his apostles what to take on their journey as they go out as missionaries to the world. He tells them to not take too many material possessions, as this will weigh them down and make them too dependent on the things of this world. He wants them dependent on God alone. In a lot of cultures, hospitality is so important, of welcoming the stranger and the visitor into one’s household. Jesus expected that same hospitality for the missionaries he sent out into the world with his Good News.
There are many things we carry with us on our journey. Some of them are physical things, while others are the psychological or spiritual or emotional things. Those things can either help us or hinder us on our journey. We can turn to those things for security and comfort rather than the values of our faith. We may all need to get rid of those things that are burdening us on our journey, just like dumping those unnecessary things out of a heavy backpack so that the load is not too heavy. Not only are priests and deacons and consecrated members of religious orders called to live in Gospel simplicity: all of us as Christian disciples are called to live a life of Gospel simplicity and Gospel values according to our station and responsibilities in life. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “I do own things but they do not own me.” All of us should have such an attitude in life.
How are we proclaiming God’s kingdom in our lives? And what is keeping us from proclaiming his kingdom?
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