Daily Gospel Reflection for July 11, 2021 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Virginia Pillars

Today's Gospel: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 6:7-13

As a 4-H leader of nineteen years, I felt secure because I had a set of constraints to follow. One of the guidelines stipulated we have two adults present when we worked with any youth. No one on one. This helped both the member and the adult. We relied on each other for support. Plus, any accusation of inappropriate conduct could be disputed by a witness. It gave the organization credibility.

In our gospel reading today, Jesus gave His apostles a set of guidelines to use as they preached His message.
Go in pairs. Partners can give each other strength, credibility, and accountability.

Take nothing. Depend on Jesus for our needs as we go.

Stay there until you leave. Concentrate on the people in front of you. Not on what you’ll do tomorrow, or what happened yesterday. In other words, live in the moment.

Shake the dust off your feet. Some will not accept the message about the Kingdom of God. In Biblical times, shaking the dust off the feet was the cultural equivalent of showing disdain. Sometimes, the people we encounter will refuse to listen. Jesus instructed the disciples to walk away. This tells me when people turn away from the gospel, it’s not my job to convince them. My role means I present and then put them in the hands of Jesus. Pray for them, and walk away. My job is to present His truths and leave the rest to God.

Were the disciples ready to take on the mission, the commission? Yes, they’d witnessed Jesus at work, but were they really ready?

Ponder:

Am I ready to accept the commission from Jesus?

Pray:

Thank you for the gift of Your grace. I pray for the desire to follow You. I need You to prepare my heart to listen for You and accept my commission from You.