Back in the days when my family and I went on vacation, we rarely went anywhere for more than a week or two. For some unknown reason, however, we always packed enough clothes to be gone for six months, not to mention the snacks and drinks we also took along. On those occasions when the family trip was to my in-laws for Christmas, then all the stuff we took with us made our car looked more like we were moving away.
Too bad we didn’t follow the advice that Jesus gave to his twelve disciples before sending them out on their mission. His advice has a lot of practical value that we could have used when packing our car. His advice also has value that applies to our own spiritual journey as much as it did for the apostles.
We learn about that advice in a conversation Jesus has with the twelve. We come in on the tail end of that conversation in today’s gospel where Jesus gives the apostles a sort of pep talk before sending them out. He sends them to the towns and villages around Galilee to proclaim the good news, heal the sick, and drive out demons. Before they go, however, Jesus provides them with some specific instructions for their journey.
He tells them what they are to take with them—no money, no sandals, only one tunic; and where they should go—to the lost sheep of Israel; and where to stay—in the house of a worthy person; and when to leave—either when their mission in that place is complete, or when the people there reject them. Should that happen, Jesus has a special warning for those who reject the apostles. He says that “it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town” (Mt 10:15).
This is how the apostles learn that things may not go as well as they might expect on their journey. Jesus warns them because he knows that doing good works sooner or later will pit them against those who oppose such a purpose. Odd as that may sound, there are those who actually oppose doing good, as much today as it was back then.
In fact, Isaiah provides a warning to such persons. To those who pretend that evil is good, and good is evil, to those who acquit the guilty for bribes, and deprive the innocent of justice, Isaiah says that they expose themselves to the wrath of God (Is 5:20-25). They might hide their true intentions from others for a time, but in the end, they will be found out (Jn 3:20). As Jesus points out, “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known” (Mt 10:26).
Jesus appeals to such warnings because following him comes at a cost, at times including the cost of life itself. For that reason, Jesus minces no words when he tells the apostles that they “will be hated because of his name, but that they shouldn’t worry, for they are worth more than many sparrows (Mt 10:31). Thus, they can be sure that God the Father will take notice and reward their devoted witness (Mt 10:22-23).
Jesus speaks to the apostles in this future sense because his mission of spreading the good news and doing good works will continue after his own earthly life ends. His mission will continue not only with those apostles, but also with all the dedicated followers who come later (Jn 14:12). Through his own life and mission, Jesus demonstrates that the true meaning of life is found only in loving service to others (Mt 16:25). Thus, the final commissioning of the twelve before his ascension to go forth and teach all nations was only the beginning. Our own baptismal call is a continuation of that same commission to be witnesses for Christ.
It follows that the advice Jesus gave the twelve is meant for us as well, for we know that following Christ can be a challenge at times. The challenge flows from the fundamental principle that guides our calling—love of God and love of neighbor. As Jesus made clear, “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Mt 22:40). Nevertheless, we all know from our own experience that loving some folks doesn’t come that easy. Still, we are called to do just that in imitation of Christ, and so we try.
In a sense, however, we have an advantage over the early apostles. They followed Christ because they saw what he did and therefore believed in him. We, on the other hand, have not seen or heard Jesus in a direct sense. We only know Jesus indirectly. We are those Jesus called attention to when he said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (Jn 20:29). Our belief in Jesus at this point in the post resurrection era therefore affords us an advantage and blessing not available to those early followers of Christ.
This is where the advice Jesus gave to the disciples becomes helpful. The first piece of advice was to travel light. Sometimes, we get too focused on the things of this world, our material possessions, our jobs, our business and personal relationships. Add on the potential for drama in our lives, and these otherwise legitimate concerns can become a real distraction on our spiritual journey. When that happens, we might do well to lighten our load and be less anxious about our worldly affairs. We might do well to spend less time on acquiring material wealth and more time on sharing what we have, especially our time and our love with those who need us the most, those closest to us.
The second piece of advice Jesus gave his apostles was to avoid certain people. He refers to those who do us spiritual harm (Mt 10:28). Our commitment to doing good for others often goes against the cultural and political grain. Thus, the cost of following Christ might include avoiding those who are at odds with our spiritual aims and undermine our spiritual welfare. No matter how much we like them or value their opinion, avoiding them might be the only way to safeguard our own spiritual health.
Despite the need for vigilance in this regard, the third piece of advice offers us hope. In all cases, Jesus assures us that we have no reason to fear anyone or any set of circumstances, however unfair or unjust. As the Psalmist proclaimed long ago, “If the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? If the Lord is my life’s refuge, of whom should I be afraid” (Ps 27:1). Jesus offers us this same hope in the promise he made to the apostles. He promised not to ask them, nor does he ask us, to endure anything beyond our capability, or that he himself has not already endured in one form or another (cf. 1 Cor 10:13).
This is what motivates St. Paul to remind the Hebrews that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way” (Heb 4:15). Because our worth far exceeds that of a fallen sparrow, no matter how bleak or unfair things appear to us, Jesus is with us to the end (Mt 10:31; 28:20). He is the source of our joy and the strength of our life—in this world and in the next.
