Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick. They were to wear sandals. Jesus knew, Jesus knows, that if the good news is going to get out there, if the message of God’s love will be spread abroad, he will need collaborators. The twelve were the first group who carried the message. We are part of that same tradition. As the founder of my religious congregation put it: “Every Catholic is called to be an apostle.” Jesus will only come to be known and loved if we spread the message. Notice that as we are sent we, like the twelve, are told to travel light, only taking what is needed. That implies that we should not burden the message of Jesus with cultural additions added over the centuries. For example, insisting that the Mass be celebrated in Latin or that only organ music and chant are appropriate in Church is burdening the gospel with remnants of western civilization. The kingdom of God does not require it. One can spread the love of God and neighbor in any tongue and can praise the Lord with strings and drums.
