David had a long and adventurous life. In today’s first reading from 1 Kings 2, we read about the death of David. “The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.” Upon his death, his son Solomon was seated on the throne. In our Gospel reading today, Jesus sends out the Twelve.
“He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts.” Jesus told the Twelve to take nothing with them so that they would have to be totally relient on God. They had to know that He would provide. Jesus did not want them to have a fallback position. They had to operate without a net on this one.
A wise instructor of mine liked to tell of a time when, as a successful businessman, he would have a hundred dollar bill with him at all times. You know, just in case. That way if anything weird happened, he would always be able to bail himself out of a jam with that Benjamin. In time, he came to realize that it was not that hundred dollar bill that was bailing him out of jams, but God. Eventually, he left the hundred behind (and, in time, the successful career) and counted on God to see him through. So far, God’s batting a thousand…which, last time I checked, was much better than a hundred.
Father, help us to rely fully on you. May we come to understand ever more deeply that you will always take care of us, no matter what. Amen.
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