Lessons: Psalm 75, 76; Wisdom 19:1-8, 18-22; Romans 15:1-13; Luke 9:1-17.
As a child of the South I was taught manners and customs of behavior that have largely stuck and enriched my life. Every sitting down to eat was a classroom on etiquette. Elbows were instructed, not on the table. Left hand in the lap. Don't push the peas with you finger. By my preteen years my father had the fastest fork in the East. If you missed the mark there was the back side of the dinner fork knocking your fingers or elbow. It was more the shock than the hurt.
As we finished (I was usually last since I liked to talk) we turned to Mom and said, "Thank you for our breakfast (or dinner). May I be excused." It taught me awareness that even ordinary things like eating involved gift and effort and respect of others with you. It was preparation for us to be in the world in such a manner that we navigated social situations with awareness, ease and the lightness that accompanies best behavior.
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money-not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Luke 9:1-6
I have long liked this image of simple instruction for Jesus' followers. After showing them how to do their tasks, to heal and teach, he essentially says, "Travel light and accept hospitality." Take only what is necessary with you, maybe less than you think is necessary. It is as if he is telling them, out of resources of God's generous people, your needs will be met. For this hospitality, you will offer God's hospitality in teaching on God as present and reigning in our lives. From this relationship you will find you can in fact offer healing.
How often it is that, when we sit with one another, share our stories, our discoveries of God in our lives, listen intently to another's journey, perhaps hopes, that small healings of hurts or memories happen. This is most true when we carry our stories with the lightness of hope.
One of the deep lessons of spiritual direction is the art of waiting for the "directee" to awaken more deeply to the action of God in his/her life. One can offer insight, methods, open possibilities, help to clear the spiritual fog that often is present. Yet the wholeness desired is in the deepening relationship and awareness of relationship the "directee" has with God by God's creative intent. This further is present in one's relationship to other travelers who seek God's will and action.
Jesus has modeled for his disciples this art of listening in several ways. He listens to the face of the Pharisee who had him to dinner and did not understand the woman who washed Jesus feet with her hair. He listens to the woman with the flow of blood as she explains her fear, her hope, her experience of healing. Listening is so often the precursor to healing.
Finally in this passage, there is the instruction, "Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." I used to think this was like a curse, an insult for insult. I no longer do. It is most likely an invitation to carry all things lightly. If you are ill received or of no consequence in the faith life of another, so be it. Clear your head/heart as you ceremonially clean your sandals. Let it go and move on. What you may never know is that down the line or in the moment, if your care has been genuine, you may be of greater aid or consequence than you know. That is in God's hands. Such are the patterns of our journey into God's will
We all benefit from traveling lightly.
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