The gospel for today's meditation presents us with a moment when Jesus was instructing his disciples. He summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two ... having instructed them to take nothing for the journey (Mk 6:7-9) but that which was absolutely essential. These words, first spoken to the twelve continued to be spoken to us as well. We who endeavour to live our faith in modern times are also encouraged by Jesus to take only that which is absolutely necessary with us for the journey.
Today, the Church celebrates and prays with Saint Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit priest, and his companions who were martyred by crucifixion in 1597. Christians have faced persecution everywhere in the world, so the threat that they would be put to the test was nothing new, yet it has consistently been an essential part of God's plan that where the faithful are persecuted, the seeds of faith are most often planted and most fruitfully flourish.
Even in places where there is the threat of persecution, Jesus continues to send his disciples out ... instructing us to take nothing for the journey except for that which we absolutely need: faith in Him, trust that He will never leave us alone and a willingness to serve. The reward that comes with such commitment is the gift of joy, the joy of knowing that we are faithful servants with many ancestors in faith - who we call martyrs and saints - to help us.
Have a great day.
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