Today Jesus gives the disciples a wonderful gift: He gives them power and authority over all demons as well as the ability to cure diseases. He then sends them forth “to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” When we chose to follow Jesus, then we also are disciples of Jesus. Today He is sending us forth to heal and to proclaim the Kingdom of God to every individual we encounter.
Jesus instructs the disciples to travel lightly. He tells them to take nothing for the journey, not money, not a walking stick, not a suitcase , not even food. They are to depend on the kindness and generosity of the people they serve. (Many of us likely would find this a challenge.) Jesus also warned them that their message would not be welcomed by every person they encountered. If this was the case, they should simply move on and “shake off the dust from their feet in testimony against them.”
How did the disciples react to Jesus’ instruction? Were they tempted to take some of their necessities with them? Or did they trust Jesus’ word that the people would feed and shelter them? The disciples then set off, traveling from one village to another, proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
If we are Jesus’ disciples, today He also is giving us the same instruction He gave to His disciples.  Imagine we were setting out on a journey with only the clothes on our backs, no toiletries, no clean clothes, no food, no money, or any of the other items we might consider essential. 
If we truly desire to journey with Jesus, we also have to travel lightly. Today’s Gospel may prompt us to ask ourselves: What is it that I truly do need? What can I let go of?  What is Jesus asking us to release or to leave behind? What do we no longer need? What no longer serves us well?
Today,  let us ask Jesus to give us  the wisdom to choose what to let go of. It may be difficult, but in the end  we  will feel freer and lighter. 

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