Mk 6:7-13 Shake It Off

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Click here for readings)

By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

Simplicity.  The Lord is instructing His followers to take very little with them on their journey. 

So what exactly are they to take?  The answer is remarkably simple:  HIM.  Jesus Christ.  And in order to take Jesus along, it is required they leave certain things behind.

Where you go, go with Him.  What you say, say it through Him.  What you do, do it in Him. 

It doesn't get any simpler than that. 

A long time ago I read "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  It is a delightful little book (I don't know what I did with it, I think I let someone "borrow" it) regarding Mrs. Lindbergh's summer vacation along the seashore.  Anyways, this wonderful book contained lots of words of wisdom, including that of simplicity (or simple living).  Every summer, Mrs. Lindbergh would pack one suitcase and go live by the sea.  Sounds simple, right?  Well, she found tremendous value and liberation in doing so.

The Lord is inviting all His followers to do the same as well.  DO NOT COMPLICATE LIFE!

Complications.  We love to complicate things, especially life, and we tend to do it through our sins, especially the sins of pride, vanity and sensuality. 

Why was it so important to the Lord that the disciples only bring certain things and leave other things behind?  What's the big deal?

I'm sure all of you have heard of Donald Trump.  He's a multibillionaire running for President.  He takes pride (in a good way) in what he has accomplished.  But every time I listen to him, I get the feeling he thinks we need him more than he needs us.

The Lord doesn't want his disciples to get like that.  Hence, He has purposely made it extremely difficult for them to get by without the help of others. 

Simplicity makes it absolutely necessary to get along with others, and to never consider oneself above another.

Live your LIFE, your MARRIAGE, your RELATIONSHIPS, especially FRIENDSHIPS, without complicating them!

Shake it off.  If you ever wondered where Taylor Swift got her inspiration for her hit song, "Shake it off", then look no further then today's Gospel passage:  "Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet."

Don't pitch a fit!  Don't get angry!  Don't get resentful!  Don't feel stupid or dumb or embarrassed!  JUST MOVE ON!  Shake it off!

Whenever you feel like your life has become too complicated, then go back to the basics:

1.  Who am I?  I am a gift from God.
2.  What am I here for?  To be a saint.
3.  What does it mean to be a saint?  It means to be holy.
4.  What does it mean to be holy?  It means to know how to love.
5.  What does it mean to love?  It means to freely give and forgive.

That's it.  Simple as 1,2,3,4,5.

I guess this is also what it means to be a visionary (cf. Am 7:12-15).