TAKE NOTHING FOR THE JOURNEY

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 66: 10 – 14 / Ps 66 / Gal 6: 14 – 18 / Lk 10: 1 – 12, 17 – 20 or 10: 1 - 9

I was one of the many victims of that horrible traffic last Friday evening brought about by the heavy rain. From Plaza Independencia to the Archbishop’s Residence in Jakosalem Street which usually takes only 10 to 15 minutes, I had to travel from 4:30 in the afternoon to 8:00 in the evening. It took me three and a half hours to reach my destination.

To while away the time, I read the Gospel for today inside the vehicle, and I easily understood the meaning of the words, “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way” because, to my child-like understanding, if you bring money bag and sack, all will be wet! If you wear sandals or shoes, it will be soaked. And if you greet people along the way, basin maabtan ka o di ba kaha maanod kas baha! (perhaps you will get drowned by the flood).

“Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.”

At first glance, this instruction of Jesus appear unreasonable. I thought: if you do not bring money, then, how can you buy food? If you do not bring a sack or a bag, then where will you place your clothes or important documents? If you do not wear a pair of sandals, then, imagine how dirty your feet will be! And if you do not greet people along the way, chances are you will be accused of disrespect or being a snub.

However, my dear friends, reflecting deeper on these words of Jesus in today’s Gospel, “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way,” it invites us to likewise deeper appreciation of our relationship with God.

“Carry no money bag, no sack”

These words point to us a truth about God – the truth of His providential care for each one of us. This is what the prophet Isaiah reminds us in our First Reading today. We, God’s children, must not worry about our journey because God is like a mother who “nurses us with her abundant milk; who will carry us in her arms; and who will comfort us in our needs.” God’s providence is like an overflowing torrent that spreads throughout the land. However, this do not mean that we will no longer work. Rather, divine providence means that after doing everything that we need to do, we enjoin it to the providence of God. We take away our fears and worries and put our trust in the generous Lord. Kana ganing, na stranded ka sa baha, gibuhat na nimo ang tanan para makauli ka, pero walay epekto (You know, that situation when you’re stranded in a flood, you try to do everything to get home but to no avail). Then, suddenly you call on God, and you trust on his providence.

“Wear no sandals.”

In the Old Testament, Moses upon seeing the burning bush was asked to take away his sandals for he was standing on holy ground. This is also true in our relationship with God. We must remind ourselves that such relationship is sacred and holy because it is God who is our partner. And so, our challenge is to take away from our lives those that will not make us holy – our sins. The same way as we take away the unnecessary attachments in our sandals like thumbtacks, bubble gum, or the small stones; removing them make us travel comfortably. More importantly God is calling us to detach ourselves from our sinfulness, or situations that lead us to sin, so that we can maintain a holy relationship with God.

“Greet no one along the way.”

This, my dear friends, is an invitation for us to focus on our relationship with God. You see, when we are in the habit of greeting people along the way, we delay our travel. This is true in our relationship with God: If we entertain unnecessary dreams like becoming powerful, influential and rich, then, we distract ourselves from our spiritual journey and eventual union with God. As we journey through life, we experience the beauty and grandeur of the world. But I hope we do not forget where we are truly headed – that is, to live with God forever.

My dear friends, Christianity is all about relating to God. For us to grow in that relationship, we must trust on his providence, shake off the dust of sin from our sandals, and to stay focused on our desire to be with him.

When I finally arrived last night after a three and a half hour ordeal on the road, I learned that many of my friends also experienced what I experienced. That realization made me smile. I was not alone. We were many!

My dear friends, relating to God and with God is never easy. But always remember you are never alone. We are many. Amen.