Today’s gospel offers me two great reminders about ways I can work on living out Jesus’s message. He tells the apostles to pack light and be ready to go. How often do I get weighed down by things, by possessions, by a way of living that is the opposite of this message? How can I pack lighter and, by doing that, help make someone else’s burden lighter? How can I focus more on people, and not things? What can I do to help make the world a better place, right now, right here? I can be kind. I can be helpful. I can make time for someone else. We get weighed down by things and titles and the ways we think we have to live our lives to be successful. Take Let me look at my life and figure out ways to pack light. I don’t expect perfection, but I can take steps to drop some of these things that can become burdens.
The second reminder for me from today’s gospel is when Jesus tells the apostles to leave a place that does not welcome them and “shake the dust off your feet.” For me, I think this means to acknowledge mistakes, work to correct them, and move on. This applies to myself and to others. Not everything works out. I will make mistakes. Other people will make mistakes. Let me assume good intentions. Let me work to make sure my intentions are good, that I do see the good in everyone. Let me let go of grudges, of past hurts and misunderstandings. Let me see God in all things, including myself. Let me shake the dust of those grudges and perceived slights and move on.
Carol Zuegner
Writing and reading the Daily Reflections helps me connect with my faith.
