Today’s Gospel: MK 6:7-13
In today’s Gospel Jesus sends his disciples out into the world … two by two.  Giving authority to them to heal the sick and to cast out unclean spirits and of course evangelize to the people to repent of their sins and follow Jesus.  Then he gives them very specific instructions before they leave … that quite frankly are counter intuitive to people going on a long arduous journey!
 
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick and the sandals they were wearing… no food, no snacks, no money in their belts and no second tunic.
 
This is really a strange demand to give people who are preparing for a long journey!  Normally, you want to make sure that you have emergency money or a credit card to assure that if you have car trouble, you can get a tow and have the auto repaired.  In the winter time we are cautioned to take blankets and snacks in the car in case we become stranded etc.  So, from our perspective one might look at this as foolish to leave so ill prepared. 
Why on Earth is Jesus making these demands?  Jesus is forcing the disciples to put their money where their mouth is … and place their faith in God, that all of their necessities for the journey would be provided to them.   This demand might not have been as hard for the disciples to follow as you might think.  Remember, during his ministry the disciples have seen Jesus feed the masses with 5 loaves and two fishes as reported in Matthew 14: 14-19.  They watched him turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana.  They even watched him calm the very tempest and storms of the sea.  They were used to seeing miracles of this nature every day that they were with Jesus. 
But for the sake of discussion, let’s examine the reason that the disciples would have wanted to take food, snacks, money and a change of clothing on a journey.  FEAR! The items that the disciples were being told not to take were those that would be taken out of fear.  A fear of not finding food would prompt you to bring food and snacks.  A fear of not finding shelter and having to stay at an inn would prompt you to take money.  A fear that you would be robbed of your clothing and have nothing to change into would prompt you to take a second change of clothes.  The necessities for surviving the journey were not denied the disciples.  A walking stick and sandals were necessary items for the journey! These are not items that would not be taken out of fear.  In the terrain they were walking, there were a lot of rocks and hills… and the walking stick was necessary to maintain their balance when they became tired.  It was also necessary to stave off wild animals and thugs that they might encounter along the journey.  Sandals were a must because they were walking over rocky soil and trying to make the journey without them would have hurt the disciple’s feet.
Today, Jesus asks the same faith from us.  We are to live our lives and evangelize as we go, just like the disciples.  He doesn’t ask us to forgo the necessities of life on the journey, but he tells us to leave fear behind because he is with us!  Have Faith in Jesus!
Albertus Geistspricht