Right off the bat, I will tell you that this is one of the gospel passages that drives me bonkers. The whole sending out the disciples on mission with nothing other than the most basic of supplies. During my time in seminary, it was uncanny how many of the students were in boy scouts during their youth. 10% of the seminarians for St. Louis were full-fledged Eagle Scouts. As you know, the motto for the Boy Scouts is“Be Prepared.” Even though I was never in the scouts, I certainly live by that credo. To this day, I am a belt-and-suspenders sort of guy. I like to have every scenario covered. I keep flashlights in my car and in the rectory. I have water filters in multiple locations in case of a natural disaster or alien attack. My car is a moving triage vehicle with a first-aid kit, jumper cables, air compressor, blanket, and fire-starter and tool set. Even when I travel, I have to choose which natural disasters I can be prepared for with the luggage I am allowed to bring. I admit, it's strange but we all have our issues!
But it's not only boy scouts or paranoid pastors that like to be prepared. It is a basic human tendency to try to plan ahead. Many people store food and water in case of disaster or disruption of service. Others make sure to carry their cell phones with them at all times, even in the bathroom in case they need to phone a friend for help. Most, if not all of us, have rehearsed safety drills for fires, tornados, earthquakes in case any of these ever happened to us. We like to feel prepared and have things set aside in case a situation arises.
We are not so different from people from every age. Humans have always tried to prepare before going out and doing something and usually preparation is essential for the success of any mission.
But in our Gospel, Jesus ignores this basic human tendency. For this reason, his command to the disciples seems a little reckless. Put yourself in the shoes of the disciples that we read about today (or maybe that is the wrong image to use because they are sent out with nothing; not even sandals, money bag, sack of belongings or supplies. They are not to greet anyone on the way and they are to eat whatever is placed before them. Jesus is sending them out into the world with little preparation and few resources. It sounds a lot like the biblical version of the TV show “Man vs. Wild.” Why in the world is he doing this?
I believe that our Lord wants to teach his disciples two things by sending them out in this manner. Firstof all he wants the disciples to rely on himand not simply on their own resources, abilities, or cleverness. Because they take nothingwith them, the disciples must put their faith to the test. They have been following Jesus, but now they must spread that faith to others. Before they preach the faith, they must first live it. So each day they have to trust in God and in those he will send to help them; there is nothing more basic than relying on God for your next meal and a place to sleep. To carry out Jesus' command, they will have to trust in God for everything because they have been sent out with nothing.
The second thing Jesus is teaching his disciples is a sense of urgency. We tend to over-prepare. We try to think of everything we need and end up missing the opportunity we were preparing for. Jesus knows his time here on earth is quickly passing away and there are still many who need to hear the gospel. As he says in the Gospel, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” He knows there is no time to waste. So he sends the disciples out right away. He tells them to take nothing with them so that they will not be slowed down by packing and planning or distracted by gathering supplies. By sending them in this way he makes it clear that they are to commit themselves totally to the proclamation of the gospel, so much so that their very lives depend on it.
The Lord’s plan certainly worked. As we hear in the end of the gospel, the disciples return rejoicing because of the success of their mission. It's almost like they can't quite believe it worked themselves. But they cast out demons and healed the sick, all in Jesus’ name.
It's easy for us to look at this gospel and keep our distance. We can admire the courage and faith of the seventy disciples that went out so apparently unprepared and came back so wonderfully successful. But we often feel that that was then and we are in a different time and place. Most of us are pretty good at coming up with excuses as to why we cannot imitate their example.
ButJesus is sending us out, even today, to spread the gospel. We may not literally walk from town to town, without sandals, money, or belongings. But each of us is sent out each day to the world; some as students, some as professionals, some as children to summer camps and sports, others as parents, to their families. Each of us here today is sent by Christ to proclaim the gospel to the people that we meet in our everyday lives, if not by our words then always by example. Jesus wants us to learn the lessons of the gospel today, even if we do not literally imitate the disciples. We are still called to rely totally on the Lord in our lives and not simply on our own resources, abilities, and possessions. If we are going to spread this faith that we profess, then we must also live it as well. If we just rely on ourselves, on who we know, or the resources and abilities we've stored up, we will almost certainly miss the message that God is trying to communicate through us. God's power is most effective when we act respond immediately to his call rather than hemming and hawing and covering every contingency.
We are called to go WHERE the Lord leads us, WHEN he calls us. The harvest is still abundant and the laborers are still few. Let us pray every day for the faith and generosity of the disciples so that the Lord can send us wherever the saving gospel is needed.
