Luke 9:3 — Community Reflections

LUKE 9:3 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.”

He told them: take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt — the radical dependence of the mission: no provisions, no emergency supplies, no financial reserve. The enumerated list of prohibited items (staff, bag, bread, money, extra shirt) communicates the comprehensive stripping away of self-sufficiency. The mission depends on the hospitality of the communities it enters and on the God who provides.

Church Fathers on Luke 9:3

It was fitting that those who were appointed the ministers of holy teaching should be able to work miracles, and by these very acts themselves be believed to be the ministers of God. Hence it is said, Then called he his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils. Herein He brings down the haughty pride of the devil, who once said, There is none who shall open his mouth against me.
Cyril of Alexandria · 5th century

And that through them the whole race of mankind may be sought out, He not only gives them power to drive away evil spirits, but to cure all kind of diseases at His command; as it follows, And to cure diseases.
Eusebius of Caesarea · 4th century

But after that they had been sufficiently strengthened by His guidance, and had received competent proofs of His power, He sends them out, as it follows, And he sent them to teach the kingdom of God. And here we must remark, that they are not commissioned to speak of sensible things as Moses and the Prophets; for they promised a land and earthly goods, but these a kingdom, and whatsoever is contained in it.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 19 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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