Today’s Gospel is close to the heart of the monastic confraternity. We read of Jesus sending the disciples into the world to preach the good news, taking nothing with them but the basics.
Monasticism is based on an interplay between asceticism and abundance. We practice a keen redaction in the trappings of modern life, ensuring that we have what we need for our journey of faith and nothing more. What we own, we own in common, as a community.
The purpose of our ascetic life is to leave free the remainder of it for the abundance of God’s love. This is the part that many onlookers to religious life do not see. The freedom we gain from our life of boundaries is one of the greatest freedoms attainable in human existence. As the composer Edward Elgar pointed out, it is only once boundaries are put in place that creativity can work to its fullest. The same may be said for the freedom and efficacy of religious spiritual experience.
Whilst there are those who go out into the world to preach the good news, our mode of life is quieter. Our aim is to develop encounter with God in a real and dynamic way, through the everyday diurnal actions a life of silence. This itself draws people to us and, as such, brings them closer towards God.
We do not go to the houses, as do the disciples in today’s Gospel. The people tend to come to us. Some understand; some do not want to; some think that we are a waste of time, even. But our work goes on, and our quiet dedication to God may still be observed through the age-old monastic posture of service and Gospel integrity.
May we, in whatever vocation we find ourselves in, always give praise to God, for being our sustainer and nourishment in all things.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with you r spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 6:7-13
Glory to you, O Lord.
He began to send them out.
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added,
Do not take a spare tunic.’ And he said to them, ‘If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.’
So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ