Reflection for February 3, Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:7-13

Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  

He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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Reflection:

Do you share in the mission of Jesus and the apostles?  

According to a written commentary in Judaism there is a need for two witnesses to attest to the reality of a completed accomplishment. That’s why Jesus sent the apostles two by two to serve as witness to each other’s good deeds. 

But more than that I think the twelve were sent two by two to be of help to each other, to strengthen each other whenever they feel like giving up in their mission of evangelization.  

Jesus emphasized to the apostles that they should have complete trust and confidence on Him because He will provide for them. That’s why He said: “Take nothing with you except for your walking stick: “No food, no sack, no money in your belts.”  

By our Baptism we also share in the mission of Jesus and the twelve apostles. We are also being commissioned by Jesus to heal those who are emotionally and spiritually wounded. And this is brought about by the harsh realities of life most especially now primarily brought about by covid-19.  

There are many who still needs to be helped and to be evangelized let us therefore take part in the mission of the apostles. Let’s not worry about ourselves Jesus will take care of us in return as what He did for the apostles. – Marino J. Dasmarinas