Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Sister Weng SSpS
Wednesday 25th Week in Ordinary Time
During our early years of formation, we were constantly reminded to “travel light” whenever we went on a journey or participated in an exposure program. This meant bringing only what was essential and leaving behind whatever was unnecessary.
This is precisely the message Christ conveys in today’s Gospel when He sends out His apostles on mission. He instructs them: “Take nothing for the journey” (Luke 9:3). Jesus does not mean that they should carry absolutely nothing; rather, He teaches them not to burden themselves with excess. As He explains elsewhere, they are not to take a second tunic or unnecessary provisions. The point is not poverty for its own sake, but trust in God’s providence.
Why is this important? Often, when people travel, they bring along many things because they believe they cannot manage without them. These possessions become sources of comfort and security. In reality, however, they often reveal where our deepest trust lies. We can become so attached to material possessions, personal resources, and human plans that we gradually rely more on ourselves than on God.
Jesus challenges this tendency. He invites His disciples to place their security not in possessions but in the Father’s care. He reminds us of the same lesson found in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew 6:25). Instead, He assures us that “your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:32).
Trust in God’s providence deepens when we learn to live with less. The more attached we become to our possessions, the greater the temptation to depend solely on our own abilities. Yet Jesus teaches: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The disciple who travels lightly is free to trust more fully in God’s care and guidance.
This teaching remains relevant today. In a world that often measures security by wealth, possessions, and personal achievements, Christ calls us to a deeper confidence in God. The Israelites learned this lesson in the desert, where they depended daily upon God’s provision of manna (Exodus 16:4-15). Likewise, we are invited to trust that God will provide what we truly need.
For those entrusted with a mission in the Church, this challenge is particularly important. Do we rely on God who sends us, or do we place our confidence solely in our own resources? St. Paul learned the answer when the Lord told him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A Reflection
Do we feel secure and at peace even when we possess little?
Do we truly believe that God provides for all our needs?
When we are sent on a mission, do we trust more in our talents and resources, or in the God who calls and sends us?
Prayer
Lord, teach me to travel lightly through life. Free me from excessive attachment to possessions, comforts, and securities. Help me to place my trust in Your loving providence and to depend on You each day. May I walk the path of discipleship with a free and generous heart, confident that You will provide all that I need. Amen.
