February 1, 2024, Thursday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time-B

1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12

Psalm 1 Chronicles 39:10-12

Mark 6:7-13

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff… Mk. 6:8

Lord, at first glance instructing your disciples to begin their mission without provisions may have the appearance of a hardship but it turns out to be a very successful strategy.  Scripture tells us that their first mission trip bore much fruit and none of them starved.  It’s a message to us that we should rely on you more and on ourselves less.  I can see the doubt on their faces as you told them not to take any food or money on their journey.  They knew they were going to have to connect with the people more than normal to eat.  They had an urgency to support each other and to be efficient in their preaching to have a bed for the night.  They had to pack compassion, patience, gentleness, and faith instead of supplies.  Your command to “pack light” was your way of saying “trust me”.  Lord, I believe you will never ask me to do anything without giving me the means to do it.  May I watch for your hand today in my walk.  Give me my “daily bread” to fill me with the means to handle anything today.  Amen.