Bible Reading: Mark 6:1-13
Dear Friends,
I think there are a couple of interesting and helpful things to notice about Christian ministry in the short
description of the “mission of the twelve” in the middle of this weeks’ gospel reading in Mark 6: 6b- 13. And by
“ministry” I really mean “life,” as I think we are all called to ministry that is called to serve, called to care for
God’s world, and called to witness to God’s grace and goodness in all areas of our lives. So a few pointers for
the Christian life:
1).Life and ministry are easier when you don’t try to do it all yourself. Genesis’ observation “it is good for them not to
be alone” –isn’t primarily about marriage, I think, but human community more broadly. The author of Ecclesiastes said it well: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. Threefold cord is not quickly broken (4:9-12). Which isn’t to say that there isn’t time, also, for being alone, but merely to notice that “many hands make light labour.”
2) Keep it simple; depend on God. You know the saying as well as I do: beware that you don’t become possessed by your possession. We live in a culture that values material possessions above all else, and even while we know that money neither makes you happy nor secures your future, many of us have a hard time acting in accord with those beliefs. Many of us have also found that with additional possessions come additional worries, discontent, and restlessness almost as if, even though we’ve discovered that the cultural promises about possessions are a lie, we believe it so firmly that we keep buying more stuff trying to prove it. And so Jesus tells his disciples to simplify it makes it easier to move around, you can save your time and energy for the things that matter, you aren’t dependent on others, and you are constantly reminded that you need to trust in God for all that you need.
3) Be grateful for hospitality, but not dependent on it. Look for friends, expect the best, welcome generosity. At the
same time, don’t be deterred when it doesn’t happen. Shake it off and move on. Just like the seed grows without
the farmer knowing how (Mark 4:26-29), so also we’re not responsible for the growth of the kingdom, which means
the success of our mission, ministry, and lives isn’t based on how it’s received by others. We’re called to be faithful
sometimes that will mean others will love what we’re doing, and sometimes not.
Solomzi