Behold, I make all things new!
Luke 9:1-6
Take Only What You Need
Sometimes it is still hard for me, after all these months at home, to venture out into the world. It is even harder to imagine doing so with just the clothes on my back. Yet in this passage, that is exactly what Jesus calls the disciples to do. Like Martin Luther, we ask, “What does this mean for us today?”
I’m sure I’m not the only one familiar with the “Wallet, keys, phone, (and in recent months, mask)” routine prior to leaving the house. Just the essentials, right? Phone to communicate with family or friends or pull up a map. Keys to drive your car and/or get back into your home. Wallet for identification or when you need to buy something.
Yet when Jesus calls disciples the first time, “they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11). Here again, “He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic’” (Luke 9:3). Nothing to keep in touch with family or friends. No map app to guide them. No key to get back into their old place. No identification. No money. Nothing but the clothes on their back.
Surely, this doesn’t mean we should leave our wallet, keys, and phone (and again, recently, mask) at home from now on, right? No, I don’t think it does. But perhaps we need to put our devices down a bit more, spend a bit less money (or at least spend it more intentionally) and pay a bit more attention to the world around us.
Look at what the disciples are given for their journey: power, authority, and the good news of Jesus Christ. Those are not given only to Jesus’ friends way back when. God does the same for us here and now.
This Advent, as we again anticipate the birth of Christ, reflect on all that God has given you. Find what is truly important. Cherish it. Pray about it. Then, with that, go out – for we are sent to do God’s work every day.
God, with you, we will go out, trusting that You go with us and give us what we need. Amen.
John Christensen – Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Anchorage
1Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money — not even an extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." 6They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.