From today’s Scripture: “He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.”—Mk 6:8

There once was a young person who came to work as a Glenmary volunteer. At the end of his service, he left everything behind—all of his possessions, including most of his clothes—to go far away and serve the poor. Is that what each of us is supposed to do? You could come away from today’s Gospel with that idea.

As we all know, almost no Christians take this literally. We keep houses, food, and much more. As we walk through life, though, we need to move beyond our possessions. The more we have, the more tempted we are to cling to them instead of to God. Today’s Gospel is a challenge to live with what we need and not be so drawn to the rest.

Let us pray: Today, Lord, I pray for simplicity. Help me not to be attached to the material things around me. Teach me to depend upon you for my nourishment.

Today’s author is John Feister, an award-winning journalist and leader of Glenmary’s Communications Team. 

Free delivery!  Sign up to receive this in English or in Spanish daily by email.