The gospel for Wednesday of the 25th week in ordinary time is taken from Luke 9. 6. Jesus summoned the 12 and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.

As for those who do not welcome you when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them. Then they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere. It’s hard to imagine what that experience must have been like for the 12. They had seen Jesus do all these works, and now they were experiencing them. They could see and feel something unique. They didn’t yet understand the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence because it hadn’t happened, but they were still able to do something extraordinary.

And it was so essential to the disciples that they had that experience as the things then continued to evolve, more mysterious, more frightening than they ever expected. Please ponder these images in your heart. And when the music ends, I will close with a prayer. The closing prayer Father, we need and long for experiences of your spirit flowing through us. Open us to all that you are doing, so we can be more attentive to listening to what you ask us to do and following it. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.