DEPENDING ON GOD,S PROVIDENCE

SOWING THE WORD:
THURSDAY FOURTH WEEK IN The Old Testament YEAR I 2021
(Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Ps 47:2-4, 9-11; Mk 6:7-13)
THEME: DEPENDING ON GOD'S PROVIDENCE
Providence has to do with depending on God's protective care. It is about an attitude of the mind and heart, which makes us to realise that God takes care of us in all situations and provides what is needed for daily sustenance. This is what the gospel of today is inviting us to realize. We are called to learn to depend on God's providence.
This admonition flows from the gospel of today as Jesus sends out his apostles in pairs. The apostles are first given power over unclean spirits with the firm instructions: "...take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses...Do not take a spare tunic" (Mk 6:8). These instructions Jesus gives to his apostles, is to provide them with the opportunity to free themselves from earthly concerns and focus on the gospel. When we look at the admonitions, they do not touch on wants but basic needs. In a sense, Jesus is inviting us not to worry even about our basic needs, because God will always provide them for us.
The admonition of Jesus to his apostles demands they focus on preaching the gospel, rather than on the things of this world. It is a challenge for us today especially as there are many of us self appointed and ordained ministers of God, who rather than focus on the gospel of Christ are focusing on material wealth. Some don't even manage to focus on needs, but have unlimited wants to meet up with. That is why it is not uncommon to find prophets today and evangelists owning more than one private jet, talk less of sophisticated and luxurious cars. What about us ordinary Christians too, who have been given the responsibility to preach the Good News; do we focus on this mission of preaching or on the things of this world?
Jesus wants us to know that we must depend on God's providence and that material poverty must be part and parcel of the life of his preachers. This might run into opposition with those who preach the gospel of prosperity. But Jesus himself, though God, emptied himself of everything to become the Son of a poor carpenter. He could have come through the richest person in those days. But he chose a humble position. We too must learn to follow his example.
One thing that is sure is that if we concentrate on the Word of God, He always gives us what we need. Let us therefore seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be given unto us.