Summoned

Jesus summoned the Twelve 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.  And 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.  (Luke 9:1-6)

The dictionary definition of being “diseased” is: “sick, evil, twisted, corrupt, vicious, distorted, abnormal, perverted, impaired, warped, unhealthy, unnatural, immoral, deviant, wicked, kinky (slang), depraved, debased, debauched, aberrant, vitiated, pervy (slang), sicko (slang).  Or, and quite relevant to today’s Gospel reading, “the product of a diseased and evil mind.”

We have been summoned by Jesus to cure “diseases” by proclaiming the good news.  This means we are to affect and turn the minds of men and women towards God and love.   We don’t need much to accomplish this task.   No stick is needed.   No money is required.   All we need is ourselves and to be examples by what we say and do.  

In this way we try to heal and cure the “diseased,” and in doing so we keep ourselves healthy in mind and spirit.  We gain authority and power over our inner and outer demons trying to overpower us.  

Deacon David Pierce