Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (9: 1-6) in which Jesus sends out the twelve to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal, telling them ‘Take nothing for the journey’. Fr Paul says in this Gospel we hear that the disciples are not to take anything extra with them when they go on their missionary journey. These are very stark instructions. As a rule, they are to depend entirely on God in doing the work of God. Their missionary journey is serious, hence, the reference as to what to do if they are rejected… ‘as a sign to them shake the dust from your feet’. Luke also includes that they are to take no money, and this is part of Luke’s regular warnings that he gives about wealth. Remember, too, that Luke is possibly a physician, a doctor and this is borne out through the two references in this Gospel to healing as part of their missionary journey. So mindful of today’s Gospel, Fr Paul says, we might ask ourselves if the stark instruction in this Gospel is to depend entirely on God in doing God’s work, ‘How much do I depend on God in my life?’