Maureen Pratt, Author and Speaker

[Jesus] summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]. He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Luke 9: 1-5


The Twelve certainly did not travel First Class or even Coach! Their way of spreading the gospel was very simple and straightforward. And Jesus gave them a directive that might seem harsh to us: "And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them."

We, too, travel through our lives, striving to spread the gospel. The easier we make our journey, the more simple, the less "baggage" we carry, the truer we are to Jesus' instructions to the Twelve. And, far from continuing to beat our head against the proverbial wall when others are unwelcoming of us and our ministry, we do well to remember what Our Lord tells his disciples in thie passage from Luke. I don't think Jesus means for us to be vindictive. But here, he clearly lets us know that 1) some will not be open; and 2) we need not spend time trying to convince the hardhearted. To this, I might add that we never know how God works in people's hearts - perhaps by our example of standing firm in our faith, those hardhearted ones might someday embrace the Good News that we spread all along the way.

Winnow not in every wind,
and start not off in every direction.

Sirach 5:11


So many things to do, so little time!

When I was first diagnosed with lupus, my mind did not immediately rest upon REST, but rather, "What am I going to do instead of what I'm doing now?" Oh, the possibilities!

Many people who have experienced something traumatic feel the urge to throw themselves into numerous new pursuits, perhaps thinking as I did that one enormous, life-altering event mean that, well, life was altered and forever different from what it was before. In a way, that is true - the loss of a loved one, job, health, anything significant to us does make our lives going forward distinct from what they were. But that does not mean that we need to throw everything "before" out in the face of "life to come."

The reading from Sirach reminds me, as it might you, that sometimes we DO need to rest, recover, take time to heal. And it also reminds me that having a clear idea of purpose, identity, and capabilities is so very important before being torn in many directions - with the result that we get lost, rather than fulfilled.

Just as we can make something positive from our pain, and shine with God's light, so, too, do we need to use our losses as means to reflect and grow, heal and find the direction that will be most, pardon the pun, direct to living out our God-given potential.

Peace!