Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time-B
The Gospel for the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time is a short passage from St. Mark in which Jesus gives his disciples ‘marching orders’ before preaching about the Kingdom of God. Jesus instructs them not to bring extra food, a sack, money, or even a second tunic. What they could bring was their sandals and a walking stick.
The order of Jesus to his disciples made them itinerant preachers, meaning they were to go from place to place without the necessary provisions one would typically take on a journey. The austerity Jesus calls for has nothing to do with strengthening their virtue and is more about the overarching theme of Christianity itself, which demands detachment.
The disciples’ example and the symbolism produced by obeying Jesus would be instructive to every Christian. The example comes from the head of the body, Jesus himself. When he began his ministry, Jesus disavowed himself of worldly treasures, relying solely on the benevolence of his heavenly Father. All historical evidence indicates that Jesus did not need worldly goods to preach the Kingdom of God. And so, he instructed his disciples to do the same.
For the most part, there are very few people who can accept Christianity by stripping themselves of items they need to survive. For families to thrive and reach their potential, denying themselves food, clothing, or money would be ludicrous, especially when raising children.
If the passage in St. Mark is only directed to clergy, religious, or lay missionaries, then the importance of scripture is unduly limited to a literal reading. A compelling argument can be made that Jesus’ illustration is a message for every Christian, not just those with the authority to preach the Gospel.
Contemplating another meaning of Jesus’ teaching on austerity involves considering an explanation that the life of a Christian should be rooted in accepting the principle that worldly goods are not an end but merely a means to an end. Jesus’ life and mission prove that assertion. He was sent into the world to proclaim the truths about the Kingdom of God and give his life so we who live in sin can be reunited with God through reconciliation.
Anything Jesus had, such as a tunic or his sandals, is immaterial to the mission. As the New Adam, his life and obedience were directed to a higher goal of eternal life, not an endless life on earth. So, it is with his mortal disciples. Our existence on earth does not finish our journey; we are called to a higher life in eternity without material goods.
Instructing the disciples only to have their sandals and walking sticks and depend on other resources for food or money exemplifies the transient nature of our earthly existence. The symbolism is stark and stunning. Only footwear and a walking stick mean we are always on a journey, for we cannot become too comfortable in one place, for change continuously occurs. Our understanding of life should be similar, focusing on storing treasure in heaven instead of things that will degrade and be destroyed.
If you have ever had a chance to experience an estate sale, you will be struck by how fleeting earthly life can be. Among the items customarily liquidated are the things that made the deceased more comfortable, which are sold for pennies on the dollar. There is sadness hanging over an estate sale because without knowing the person, their material possessions are all there is to describe the person and mean absolutely nothing. Moreover, much of it is just junk.
Christians must keep this in mind whatever stage of life they are in now; they need to be cognizant of their material possessions. Those things do not, on their own, make their heir lives rich. What constitutes a fulfilled life are the relationships cultivated with God and others. Only these relationships will outlast their earthly death and continue eternally in heaven. The Gospel this week harkens us to recalibrate our own moral compass and prioritize what is important in our lives, and it is not the things we sometimes give too much of our time and attention to.