Blog:"and greet no one along the way": Difference between revisions
→"like lambs among wolves"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Two_young_boys_carrying_water_walk_down_a_road_next_to_an_IDP_camp_near_the_town_of_Jowhar,_Somalia,_on_December_14._Fighting_between_clans_has_displaced_more_than_twelve_thousand_people_near_the_town_(27447003001).jpg|alt=Image from Jowhar, Somali (Wikipedia)|none|thumb|850x850px|A dusty road on the way to somewhere (Somalia, Wikipedia)]] | [[File:Two_young_boys_carrying_water_walk_down_a_road_next_to_an_IDP_camp_near_the_town_of_Jowhar,_Somalia,_on_December_14._Fighting_between_clans_has_displaced_more_than_twelve_thousand_people_near_the_town_(27447003001).jpg|alt=Image from Jowhar, Somali (Wikipedia)|none|thumb|850x850px|<small>A dusty road on the way to somewhere (Somalia, Wikipedia)</small>]] | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
== An Ordination Mass == | == An Ordination Mass == | ||
[[File:PikiWiki_Israel_15464_Jesus_and_the_12_apostles_in_Domus_Galileae.JPG|thumb|Jesus and the 12 apostles in Domus Galileae]] | [[File:PikiWiki_Israel_15464_Jesus_and_the_12_apostles_in_Domus_Galileae.JPG|thumb|<small>Jesus and the 12 apostles in Domus Galileae</small>]] | ||
At our Arlington (Virginia) Diocese Ordination Mass, June 1, 2024, Bishop Burbidge advised the new priests to follow the Lord's instructions to the Seventy-Two (disciples) to "carry no" things, which is appropriate for the mission of a new priest: your job must not be burdened by the world, so leave it behind.<ref>"There are no U-hauls following a hearse," Father Dansereau likes to say.</ref> | At our Arlington (Virginia) Diocese Ordination Mass, June 1, 2024, Bishop Burbidge advised the new priests to follow the Lord's instructions to the Seventy-Two (disciples) to "carry no" things, which is appropriate for the mission of a new priest: your job must not be burdened by the world, so leave it behind.<ref>"There are no U-hauls following a hearse," Father Dansereau likes to say.</ref> | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
The USCCB NAB online Bible offers a brief footnote explanation that the instruction was so that "even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?4=#50010004 Mt 10:4 fn]). NetBible, a handy Biblical source, gives us a larger commentary ([https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+10 Luke 10 | Lumina (netbible.org)]): | The USCCB NAB online Bible offers a brief footnote explanation that the instruction was so that "even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?4=#50010004 Mt 10:4 fn]). NetBible, a handy Biblical source, gives us a larger commentary ([https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+10 Luke 10 | Lumina (netbible.org)]): | ||
In ancient Near Eastern culture people often gave very long greetings that tied them up sometimes for days (cf. Judg. 19:4-9; 2 Kings 4:29). Jesus did not mean that His disciples should be unfriendly or unsociable but that they should not allow these greetings to divert them from their mission. They were to pursue their work and not waste their time on lesser things. (Constable) | In ancient Near Eastern culture people often gave very long greetings that tied them up sometimes for days (cf. Judg. 19:4-9; 2 Kings 4:29). Jesus did not mean that His disciples should be unfriendly or unsociable but that they should not allow these greetings to divert them from their mission. They were to pursue their work and not waste their time on lesser things. (Constable) | ||
[[File:70Apostles.jpg|thumb|70 Apostles (Byzantine icon, Wikipedia)]] | [[File:70Apostles.jpg|thumb|<small>70 Apostles (Byzantine icon, Wikipedia)</small>]] | ||
Perhaps Jesus really did mean, "Don't get bogged down by extended ritualistic normative cultural protocols..." Well... | Perhaps Jesus really did mean, "Don't get bogged down by extended ritualistic normative cultural protocols..." Well... | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
As did Paul, the Seventy-Two had the Lord's protection and the Holy Spirit to guide them<ref>Although Paul had a debt to pay: "and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name", the Lord told Ananias ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/9 Acts 9:16]), who baptized Saul.</ref>. Still, the whole point about Jesus, the name which means "God saves," is that we live in a fallen world. The disciples, and Paul, needed protection from it. With that protection, Jesus tells them, | As did Paul, the Seventy-Two had the Lord's protection and the Holy Spirit to guide them<ref>Although Paul had a debt to pay: "and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name", the Lord told Ananias ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/9 Acts 9:16]), who baptized Saul.</ref>. Still, the whole point about Jesus, the name which means "God saves," is that we live in a fallen world. The disciples, and Paul, needed protection from it. With that protection, Jesus tells them, | ||
Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?19 Lk 10:19]) | Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?19 Lk 10:19]) | ||
[[File:Erastus,_Olympus,_Rhodion,_Sosipater,_Quartus_and_Tertius_(Menologion_of_Basil_II).jpg|left|thumb|Martydom of Saints Erastus, Olympus, Rhodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius (from the "Menologion of Basil II", a 10th-12th century Byzantine manuscript depicting the lives of the Saints, as well as the liturgical calendar and themes (Wikipedia)]] | [[File:Erastus,_Olympus,_Rhodion,_Sosipater,_Quartus_and_Tertius_(Menologion_of_Basil_II).jpg|left|thumb|<small>Dangers on the road! (Martydom of Saints Erastus, Olympus, Rhodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius (from the "Menologion of Basil II", a 10th-12th century Byzantine manuscript depicting the lives of the Saints, as well as the liturgical calendar and themes (Wikipedia)</small>]] | ||
The serpents, of course, are those cast upon the unfaithful Israelites in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/21?6 Num 21:6], saved only by looking up at the "bronze seraph" (serpent) upon the pole ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/21?8 Num 21:8-9]) The serpent, or snake, has its clear biblical implications, literal and allegorical. | The serpents, of course, are those cast upon the unfaithful Israelites in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/21?6 Num 21:6], saved only by looking up at the "bronze seraph" (serpent) upon the pole ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/21?8 Num 21:8-9]) The serpent, or snake, has its clear biblical implications, literal and allegorical. | ||
| Line 67: | Line 67: | ||
== A little personal missionary journey == | == A little personal missionary journey == | ||
[[File:Good Will Tour 2013 Grayhound Bus interior.jpg|thumb|[https://goodwilltour2013.wordpress.com/ Goodwill Tour 2013] Greyhound bus interior]] | [[File:Good Will Tour 2013 Grayhound Bus interior.jpg|thumb|<small>[https://goodwilltour2013.wordpress.com/ Goodwill Tour 2013] Greyhound bus interior</small>]] | ||
My friend and I once journeyed across the Piedmont by Greyhound bus in order to meet people who could use a little help in the form of an envelope with some dollars in it, slipped quietly to the person if the story expressesd a genuine, little need. Across a week, we encountered wonderful people, sad people, scared people, and malicious people. This was before my conversion, so it was not, for me, proselytizing, and instead, simple charity. It was moreso that for my friend, who also wanted to "give away money to someone who won't be able to ask for more later"). Still, we were spreading cheer and good will that, I trust, some of those encounters are remembered still by those we met. I remember them all well. (Here for our blog from the trip: [https://goodwilltour2013.wordpress.com/ Goodwill Tour 2013.]) | My friend and I once journeyed across the Piedmont by Greyhound bus in order to meet people who could use a little help in the form of an envelope with some dollars in it, slipped quietly to the person if the story expressesd a genuine, little need. Across a week, we encountered wonderful people, sad people, scared people, and malicious people. This was before my conversion, so it was not, for me, proselytizing, and instead, simple charity. It was moreso that for my friend, who also wanted to "give away money to someone who won't be able to ask for more later"). Still, we were spreading cheer and good will that, I trust, some of those encounters are remembered still by those we met. I remember them all well. (Here for our blog from the trip: [https://goodwilltour2013.wordpress.com/ Goodwill Tour 2013.]) | ||