Imagine the following:

You’ve been recruited for a new job.  Your trainer has every confidence in you.  You’ve had the opportunity to observe your trainer for a bit.  Shortly after joining your new group, you are directed to leave town.  You are to go out and perform your new job.  You aren’t told how long you will be gone.  You cannot take anything with you.  No snacks for your travel.  No change of clothes and no money.  Remember, you know what to do.  Your trainer has deemed you qualified to go out and perform your new duties. 

Do you have questions?  Where are you going?  Who are you to meet?  What exactly are you to do? 
Now imagine how the twelve apostles may have felt.  As I reflected on the meaning of today’s gospel, two words came to mind: faith and trust. 

Jesus had faith in the apostles.  The twelve men had faith in Him.  Afterall, Jesus wasn’t the most popular guy to be associating with.  Jesus trusted that the twelve men knew what to do.  The twelve trusted in Jesus.  If they listened to and followed Jesus’ example they would be just fine.  The journey might not be easy, but it everything would be ok. 

As I reflect further, I realize that my ability to have faith, and to trust in Jesus could use some work.  I try to surrender to Jesus and to the unique plan that was created for me.  But when I really think about it, I begin to ask questions.  Why did I have to endure this pain?  Why wasn’t I given the ability to fix this or that?  How come I didn’t have the gift of hindsight when I had to make that important decision?  Why do bad things happen to good people?

Just for today, take some time to consider faith and trust.  When has our ability to trust been challenged?  How strong is our faith when things don’t seem to go as we want? 

Some thoughts on faith and trust from some incredible people:

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much. ~ St. Theresa of Calcutta