9 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. ² Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. ⁴ Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. ⁵ And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

⁶ So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Luke 9:1-6

Dear God, it’s interesting to me to see what the Catholic and some Protestant churches use for scriptures of the day. In this case, as they work through Luke, they skipped a lot of verses in Luke 8 that included some of Jesus miracles and went to this sending out of the twelve. I wonder what was behind that decision.

As I read today’s Gospel reading, I thought about Judas. Who was he in this moment? What was his mindset, and was it really that different from Peter’s, John’s, or any of the others? He probably felt like he had found the Messiah and was ready to go. His ultimate goal was probably revolution. That was probably all of their mindsets. So as he was given this great power by Jesus, went out with his partner to minister and call people to the Messiah, and experienced the positive things that came from healing and casting out demons, I’m sure he started to get more and more excited about this.

Now, he had his failings too. John tells us in John 12:6 that he stole money from the group’s common purse. It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t stop that from happening or confront him about it. But it’s also an indication that this wasn’t necessarily a holy calling that Judas felt.

Father, I don’t know really where I’m going with this except to say that I need to check my heart. In my job, in my volunteer work in the community, or in my relationships with others, how much am I out for myself and how much is surrendered service to you? I’d be an absolute liar if I said that I am not in any of it for myself at all. But what I need to do is make sure that I try to identify my selfishness and then not let it fester. When I see it I need to repent of it. I don’t want anything I do to be about my self-preservation or selfish wants. I want to simply love you and worship you. If I serve someone, I want it to be out of devotion to you. If I go to work I want it to be out of devotion and service to you. If there is a decision in front of me that will cost me something I want, but it is part of bringing your kingdom to earth and your will being done then I want to make the decision for your kingdom and will without a second thought. So search my heart, Holy Spirit. Search my heart, Jesus. Search my heart, Father. Reveal to me the things for which I need to repent, give me the courage and strength to repent, and then renew a right spirit within me.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen