Today’s Gospel reading continues our journey through Mark’s Gospel and brings us to chapter 6 when Jesus sends his disciples out on their first missionary journey. In chapter 3 of Mark’s Gospel Jesus appointed twelve ‘to be with him, and to be sent out to preach, and have authority to cast out demons’. Following their call, the twelve listen to Jesus’ teaching, witness his acts of power, and experience the way in which he is rejected. Now they are sent out in pairs on their first missionary journey. The urgency of the task is reflected in the way in which they are to travel light, unencumbered by unnecessary baggage and preparation.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of travelling light. In today’s picture, from their book Special People, Aled and Sian are setting out on their journey, travelling light with just the map in their hands.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your followers
to travel light in your service.
Help us to follow in their footsteps,
that we are not weighed down
with the baggage of life;
for you are our God.
Amen.
Next Sunday our journey through Mark’s Gospel takes us further into chapter 6 as a dark shadow emerges over the disciples’ missionary journey. They learn about the assassination of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is martyr. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.
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Exploring the Sunday Gospel – Fifth Sunday after Trinity