In today's homily, we were warned about receiving our nourishment from the world. The world is intent on selling us things that are supposed to satisfy our desires not out of any care for us, but out of the hope to hook us in and sell us more. Meanwhile, these temporary things that we purchase serve us the same way as the cursed gold coins served Barbossa's crew in The Pirates of the Caribbean. According to Barbossa, "we frittered 'em away on drink and food and pleasurable company. The more we gave 'em away, the more we came to realize ... The drink would not satisfy. Food turned to ash in our mouths. And all the pleasurable company in the world could not slake our lust. We are cursed ..."
I believe that it is essential to note that Jesus does not tell His followers to divorce themselves from the world, but to instead spread His good news. In today's Gospel, He does not send the 72 off to cloister themselves to meditate and pray or even sing songs of praise. Instead, He sends them out into the world with specific guidelines about what to take with them (which is very little) and what they do when they arrive at various stops on their travels. They still take part in the world, but with Him as their focus.
He also does not send them alone. In this Jesus demonstrates the importance of working together, depending upon and helping one another. Our nourishment comes not just from our belief, but in actively working together to make the world a better place.
I believe that it is essential to note that Jesus does not tell His followers to divorce themselves from the world, but to instead spread His good news. In today's Gospel, He does not send the 72 off to cloister themselves to meditate and pray or even sing songs of praise. Instead, He sends them out into the world with specific guidelines about what to take with them (which is very little) and what they do when they arrive at various stops on their travels. They still take part in the world, but with Him as their focus.
He also does not send them alone. In this Jesus demonstrates the importance of working together, depending upon and helping one another. Our nourishment comes not just from our belief, but in actively working together to make the world a better place.
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