TRAVEL LIGHT AND WALK WITH THE LIGHT

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Am. 7: 12 -15; Ps. 85; Eph. 1:3-14; Mk. 6: 7 – 13

“TRAVEL LIGHT” is the first rule for those who are always on the move. If one travels light, then he sets himself free from excess baggage fees in the airport. If one travels light, then he is free from worries of losing some of his things. If one travels light, then it is easy for him to move from one place to another. However, this rule seems to be the most violated among Filipinos. We like to travel big! Tatlong araw lang sa Maynila, dala na ang isang malaking stroller, may back pack, at sling bag pa! Well, I myself is guilty of violating this rule: TRAVEL LIGHT.

My dear friends, we are now on the fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are almost halfway of the season. And our Gospel reading today reminds us of two important things as we continue in our spiritual journey.

“He commanded them to take nothing for the journey.” This command of Jesus re-echoes a rule in Judaism wherein rabbis could not enter the temple area with a staff, shoes, and bag, in order not to appear engaging with other businesses than the service of the Lord. Thus, Jesus’ command is meant for his disciples not to lose track of their mission that is to preach the message of Kingdom. Taking nothing for their journey makes them not only appear but faithful preachers of the Good News and nothing else.

The same command is very applicable in our world today. We live in an “ask for more” society. Uso na ngayon ang “two wives” at “illegal wife.” Wala ng naniniwala na may forever…na may forever sa ating mga relationships. Para sa atin only diamonds are forever. If we have the “diamonds” then we can be forever alive in this world. Such mentality according to Pope Francis makes us out of track. “Worldliness transforms souls, it makes people lose touch with reality. They live in a fake world they have made.” When our concern in this world is only about getting rich then we forget our primary task of preaching the Good News. As Christians let us “travel light” in our earthly journey so that we can become effective proclaimers of the Good News amidst an accumulating society. If we have nothing, let our second reading be our assurance. Let us continue to bless the Father who has blessed us in Christ because he has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavens and has destined us not to be children of this world but his adopted sons and daughters.

“No bag, no bread, no copper in their money bags.” Travelling light made the disciples to trust in the Lord for everything. This is also the challenge of Amos in our first reading today. God asked Amos to go to the people of Israel and prophesy. Despite his feeling of unworthiness being only a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores, God chose him. God sent him.

Trusting in the Lord means walking with the Light who is Christ. In our world today, we are heavily dependent on people and things. Kaya nga nagkakaproblema tayo dahil sa maling akala. Akala natin na alak, drogas, barkada, sigarilyo at kutsilyo ang solusyon sa problema, hindi pala. Pope Francis himself has said that “those who do not trust in the Lord is on the road towards unhappiness.” Only when we walk with the light who is Christ can we surely reach our destination for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Let us then re-echo with our Psalmist today! Let us ask the Lord to let us see his kindness so that we can TRAVEL LIGHT! Let us ask the Lord to grant us his salvation so that we can WALK WITH THE LIGHT! “Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation!”

Sabi pa ni Miriam, ang love parang electric fan. Dapat naka steady lang at hindi lumilingon sa iba. The same is true in our journey here on earth. We must steady our lives only to Jesus for only he knows the way. Thus, we must TRAVEL LIGHT and WALK WITH THE LIGHT. Amen!

Photo taken from https://alan326.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/how-to-travel-light.jpg