The word “apostle” came from the Greek word apostoloi, meaning “those sent out”. Today’s Gospel is the realization of their name. They were being sent by Christ into the “battlefield.” Before the apostles were sent, Christ recruited them as seen in Mk 1:16-20, the calling of the fishermen. Then the twelve were set apart from their communities and families to be trained and to receive authority from God. (MK 3:13-19). Now they are given the specific mission to exercise that authority in word and in power.

Matthew and Luke did not mention anything about bringing no food. For Mark no food is needed because, Christ is the Bread of Life, and whoever accepts him, brings “The Bread” with him. The common message for the three synoptic gospels is a spirit of total dependence on God, and not to be destracted by unnecessary worldly things.

Christ reminded them to remain in the same house as a guest (6:10) rather than moving to another house who offers a greater comfort. It was set to avoid any impression of seeking advantage for oneself. It also prevented an occasion of dishonoring one’s host. If the household refused the apostles’ offered peace, they have to shake the dust from their feet. When people are on a journey oftentimes it was unavoidable to pass through the gentile cities. And anything connected to the gentiles was considered unclean, including the dust on their feet. By shaking those dusts, they consider the family who refused them as gentiles, an outcast to the chosen people of God. They are not supposed to merit the salvation brought by Christ.

Amos, in the First Reading, was not really a prophet in a strictest sense. He was more of a successful business man, a herdsman and landowner. He took his faith seriously and carried the mission to preach the message of repentance to the people of Israel. Amos is reminding us that all baptized persons are Disciples of Christ. Not only the bishops, priests and nuns have the mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God. We all share the same mission. Pope Benedict XVI, in his first encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est,” emphasizes that it is the role of the lay persons, the persons living in the world to preach justice and charity.

Surprisingly Christ prohibited them to bring basic things, like bread, wallet, coins tunic etc. Most probably Christ wanted them to concentrate mainly on their mission and their attention must not be divided with the concerns of this world. Money is not basically bad. We need money for our basic needs. We need material things to live well in this world. But sad to say, that when we have accumulated too much material things the greediness within us will drive us to get more and more of it.  Until we realize that it had taken most of out time and attention. We do not notice we are slowly turning our back away from God. On the other hand, generosity and charity would suggest that worldly things must not hinder us in proclaiming God in the world. Instead, we have to use them in doing charity and for the service of God, in order to establish his kingdom more perfectly here in our midst.