Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Mark 6:7–13

Chances are I would not have been among the apostles sent on their first missionary trip that we read about in this Sunday’s gospel. And if I had, well, I probably would have taken Jesus aside for a quick follow-up conversation regarding His “know before you go” instructions.

I’m not a light packer—my husband can attest to this. I like to be prepared for all weather situations; this one tunic situation would not work for me. And to top it all off, I have massively curly hair, which means hair products, lots of hair products. Sorry, Jesus, I’m going to need at least one bag!

Shout out to God for predestining me for this millennium. 

At the time of our gospel, Jesus had been active in public ministry for about a year, with His apostles following closely, learning and observing from Him. It was the time for the Lord’s message to spread farther throughout Galilee. For that, He needed the assistance of His chosen twelve. 

Ready or not, apostles, it’s time for spiritual boot camp! Jesus was asking them to level up, strengthen and stretch their spiritual muscles, head out into the world, and, in His name, preach repentance, cast out unclean spirits, and anoint and heal the sick and suffering. 

It was the time for them to practice radical surrender—to rely entirely on God's providence for provisions, hospitality, nourishment, and sustenance. Jesus called them to be God-reliant rather than self-reliant, an essential virtue each apostle would require for the future Jesus had in store for them, for their next commission—the great commission. 

These were flawed, fallible, broken men easily prone to jealousy, pride, greed, comparisons, and materialism. We know they vied for Jesus’ attention and a choice spot among His friends (Mark 10:37), were often rebuked for their pride and arrogance (Mark 8:33, Matthew 16:23), and didn’t always get along well with each other (Acts 15:39, Galatians 2:11). 

How did these men become so radically reliant on God? What was it that allowed them to repeatedly say yes to God while no to their own desires?  

It’s simple: faith, the one-word answer that isn’t quite so simple.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us…because he is truth itself. By faith, ‘man freely commits his entire self to God.’ For this reason, the believer seeks to know and do God’s will.”[1] By right of our Baptism, we have the theological virtue of faith infused within us. However, it is our responsibility to enact it.

Faith in God, instead of ourselves, is a bold act of the will. It is an exercise in our resolve and self-control to put on spiritual blinders, remain singularly focused on Jesus, detach from the world, and run our race with heaven as our finish line. Faith is a muscle to be stretched, strengthened, and fortified by active use, one that also risks atrophy if not utilized, resulting in complacency, indifference, or apathy. The more we activate this muscle and choose faith over fear, the easier it becomes to surrender to God’s will and trust that His plan for us is always for our good, even when it doesn’t feel good. 

The apostles’ faith didn’t just appear the moment Jesus did in their lives. The more time they spent with Him, the more they heard His Word and witnessed the difference He was making in those He encountered, and the deeper their faith became. The apostles believed Jesus was who He said He was. They loved Him. Most importantly, they understood how very loved they were by Him. 

Can we say the same? 

If you are ever doubtful, like I so often am, if you find it hard to turn off the loop of mistakes and sins from running nonstop in your mind, if you question God’s promises, if your faith ever needs even the slightest pick-me-up, gaze upon the crucifix. Remember this truth: Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of love on the cross outweighs any sin we have ever committed or could ever commit. His precious blood washes away any fault, any blemish, making us clean and holy in the eyes of God the Father. His outstretched arms and nail-ridden hands on the cross are proof of the very length, width, and breadth He will go to because He loves us.

My friend, your life was redeemed by a price that Jesus paid in full. “By grace, we have been saved through [our] faith” (Ephesians 2:8).  

In accepting these truths, we must not let the enemy trap and tempt us into guilt or shame, weakening our will and leading us back to self-reliance. Make no mistake: the enemy knows the truth. He would not be so determined and ruthless in His attempts to drive us away from Christ if he did not believe the truth of Christ. He especially knows the power of a woman who actively chooses faith over fear, who makes a profound act of the will and gives her fiat to the Lord. The enemy has been pummeled before by the unshakeable confidence and radical surrender of a woman who knows her true identity as a daughter of God. Like the Blessed Mother, our yes to the Lord strikes directly at the head of the enemy.

Whether we pack lightly or rely too heavily on worldly attachments, by virtue of our Baptism, we have been chosen to continue the missionary journey of the first twelve apostles. Their call is our own. 

Ready or not, friend, it’s time for spiritual boot camp. So, let’s say yes to training for the journey: strengthening and fortifying our spiritual muscles through spending time with our Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, nourishing our souls through the sacraments, and repeating the words of our fierce warrior Mother, “Let it be done according to your word” (Luke 1:38). 

Let’s not mess about with our tunics, plans, or even hair products. Instead, let’s pick up our walking sticks and rosaries, grab our sandals, say yes to God, and radically surrender to His will.

With you on the journey,
Jeannine

Food for thought or journaling…

What worldly attachments are weighing you down? What emotions might be holding you back from fully surrendering to God’s plan for your life? 

Lord Jesus, I desire to be a saint. Strengthen my will to say yes to You and no to the world. Help me to put down all my worldly attachments—worries, fears, and sins. Empty my hands so that You can fill them with Your grace. “I believe, Lord; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Amen.

P.S. Jesus rewards our choice to claim faith in Him with the gift of salvation, freedom, healing, and wholeness. Discover the riches of living a life of freedom and pick up a copy of Fearless and Free. Step out in faith, stretch those muscles, and invite a friend to journey alongside you today. 

[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition (Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2012), #1814.