Gospel in Art: Jesus summoned the Twelve and sent them out in pairs

Landscape with Two Pilgrims Walking Along a Road, by Pieter Balten © Metropolitan Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 3rd February 2022 - Mark 6:7-13

Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching. Then he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, 'Do not take a spare tunic.' And he said to them, 'If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.' So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.

Reflection on the Old Master Drawing

In today's Gospel reading Jesus is sending out His apostles and telling them 'Take nothing with you.' One reason for saying this may be because the disciples could travel lighter, faster and further by not being burdened with earthly possessions that they carried with them. However another reason may be that Jesus wanted them to depend more on each other and on the good will of the people. By being dependent on other people for food and shelter, they would simply have to interact much more with everyone: talking to farmers in the fields asking for food, knocking on doors to sleep somewhere, etc… They would get to know the strangers on a more personal and intimate level, being dependent on their good will. Also long term, the disciples would have met so many people over the years doing this, making solid friendships along the way… they would never be alone again and have supportive communities to go back to.

We too should travel light, not getting too attached to our possessions, as we walk these earthly shores for just a little while. This life is temporary and a passage to the next life.

Our ink on paper drawing by Pieter Balten features two pilgrims walking, just like a pair of apostles in today's reading. They are encountering a stranger: a shepherd and his flock. They may well be asking for food shortly. In the background we see cows grazing the pasture underneath a burst of sun. A man is seen fishing in a river where there are ducks. It is the interaction between the pilgrims and the shepherd about which Jesus is talking today: strangers meeting for the sake of Jesus, spreading the good news and building solid friendships in the process.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/1073
Christian Art - www.christian.art