After listening to the Lord’s lesson about prophets in their native land, the disciples are sent on a mission. The “Twelve” are the ones Jesus called from their work to walk behind him. They are also the ones He chose to be with Him. Now, he sends them off, giving them authority to drive away demons and to heal, associating them with His work. All the baptized have become an “alter Christus”, another Christ. They share in his prophetic office, an office they carry out when they give witness to their faith and proclaim it to others.
Relevant Articles
- And He Sent Them Out Two By Two
- He Has Graced Us In The Beloved
- A View from the Pew: A Study of Mark 6:7-13
- Lectionary Studies: Mark 6:7-13
- Mark 6:7-13 and the New Exodus
The Text
The text of Mark 6:7-13 can be divided into two parts: (6-7) the Sending; (8-11), the Guidelines; and (12-13) the Carrying Out of the Mandate. Take note of the following:
The Twelve
The “Twelve” are those disciples that Jesus called to himself in Mark 3:13. He also called them “apostles” (3:14) in view of a future mission. At the time when Jesus chose them, the purpose was “so that they might be with him and that he might send them out preach and have authority to drive out demons”. The “Twelve” have been with Jesus and now, he sends them out. In 3:16-19, Mark gives us a list of the Twelve, with Peter in first place; the last place is given to Judas who is further described as the one “who betrayed him.”
Clothing and Food
The first part of the memo is about the clothing and supplies that the missionaries will bring. They are to have a walking staff, with sandals but no extra tunic. The tunic — the chiton — was a piece of clothing worn next to the skin. It is made of wool or linen and is fastened to the shoulders. It was normal that those who travelled brought with them an extra tunic. The requirements on clothing reduced the possibility for the missionaries to go home first and spend time packing. They were not to bring food, nor bag, nor money in their belts. The Twelve then would look like itinerant preachers who depend on the kindness of others.
When Received
The guideline for the missionary specifies that they remain in the house that welcomes them. This is to value the hospitality of the one who owns the house. Even the rabbis recommended the practise. The situation of the house owner accepting the missionary seems to assume that the owner has accepted the gospel and that the purpose of staying is for the establishment of a community of faith. If this is so, then we have here a post-paschal practise projected backwards to the time of Jesus. Remember that the evangelists were not really interested in biographical details; their interest was to show the meaning of the things of the present. In other words, Mark is connecting the present community’s missionary activities as a continuation of Jesus’ first sending of the Twelve.
When Rejected
The guideline tells the missionary what to do when not accepted in a town. They are to shake the town’s dust off their sandals in testimony against them. Jews coming from foreign countries shake the dust off their feet, so as not to bring in with them the unholy dirt of an unholy place. Here, the gesture symbolizes something graver: the town which has rejected the message of salvation will no longer hear of it. Henceforth, the dialogue of salvation which could have been initiated with a welcoming gesture ceases. The content of the proclamation is after all repentance. Rejecting repentance, the town that does not welcome the missionary declares itself unrepentant and therefore outside salvation.
Comparing the Readings
The first and second readings for the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time are both related to the Gospel. In the guidelines for the missionaries, Jesus tells the missionaries what to do if they either welcomed or rejected. When rejected, the missionaries are to shake the dust off their feet in a gesture the significance of which will be carried over to Judgment Day. The first reading comes from Amos’s rejection at Bethel. The selected passage highlights the vocation of Amos as a prophet: he does not prophesy for bread nor is he from a family of prophets. He was chosen by God taken out of his trade and sent to Bethel to prophesy against the injustices in the Northern kingdom and bring about repentance. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, is the representative of those who reject Amos’ message. The result of this rejection is the destruction of the Northern Kingdom in 721 BC. The second reading from Ephesians is prayer that Paul utters for the Ephesians who have accepted the gospel. The berakah mentions the blessings received by the Ephesians on account of the salvation wrought through Christ.
Suggestions for the Lesson
The theme of the 15th Sunday (OT B) like the previous Sunday is on evangelization. The one sent to evangelize is one who has been with Jesus and who has been listening to his words, just as the Twelve did. Just as the Twelve come from those whom the Lord has called (like the four fishermen and the tax collector) and chose to be with him and sent off, so the baptized are called, invited to be with the Lord and sent out to evangelize. Throughout his life, the Christian should hear the Lord’s three calls: Come, Stay, Go. Come, follow me. It is the call to discipleship, of listening to the Lord and learning from Him. Stay, Abide, Remain. This is the call to a deeper relationship, of encountering Him especially in the sacrament of the Eucharist: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him (John 6:56; cf. John 15:4)”. Finally, at a certain point in his life, the baptized should hear the command: “Go”. “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you”. The mission of the baptized is based on an ongoing relationship with the Lord and in imitation of Him who has put his trust in God and not on human security.
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