In today's gospel reading St. Luke's words describe some serious missioning work for the disciples. Did you ever wonder why Jesus told the apostles who were about to set begin a challenging work that they should take nothing for the journey? I surely did. Could you imagine a Bishop ordaining priests today telling them, "Okay, men, your work is to go to the parish I assign you. There you will assist a pastor in his work to be a shepherd to the people of God there. But I also tell you, you should not take anything with you. Just take your black suit, underclothes, your rabbi or clerical shirt, a pair of shoes, your breviary and a heart for of hope and prayer." Imagine what would be going through the minds of those newly ordained.
But back to the why of the challenge. So many things that we have become distractions in our lives because we come to rely on them ... perhaps more than we should. Likewise all those things that we deem to be so important ... my computer, my iPod, my stereo, my tv etc. etc. etc. ... become noise in our lives. It is the noise that prevents our allowing the Lord to work quietly within our hearts and minds. We simply will not hear him.
All that God gives us is good ... how we use those gifts will determine how open our hearts are to graces God gives us.
