Friday 30th May
Read Luke 9:3-6
“He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.” (NIVUK)
To shake the dust off the feet was a signal that the place you were leaving was unclean. The response to the good news of Jesus placed the people in the category of Gentile. Of course, the good news would ultimately go out to Gentiles like us and be received with joy. But then it was a mark that they were outside the kingdom, even though they were literally and physically inside it.
We are uncomfortable today with the judgment implied by such an act. Perhaps because we fell that our actions should be gracious and merciful at all times. Yet this discrimination is a necessary part of what it means to present the kingdom of God to others. There is a balance required. Consider Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: after cautioning everyone not to be too quick to judge He finishes with this observation.
“‘Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6) (NIVUK)
Those that show themselves unworthy at that time to hear the good news are more wisely left alone. Those that fail in the basic obligation of hospitality fall in that category when Jesus sends His disciples out on their first mission. We too need to be balanced and wise in our approach to sharing the good news.
