Shake the dust, move on

 

Several thoughts came to me while reflecting on the Scriptures today.  First, in Paul’s letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:18-24), the thought that we have in Jesus a God that is approachable.  Not terrible and vengeful, as Yahweh is sometimes written of, but a mediator, whose blood has made us perfect, whose blood "speaks more eloquently than that of Abel."

In Psalm 48, the thought that we should ponder the mercy of the Lord.  That we should carefully hold and think on our God, and His city to which we’re invited.  His city that stands firm forever against all the forces arrayed against it. (Psalm 48:2-12)

And in the Gospel of Mark, the idea that when we’re called to do the work of the Lord, whether that’s serving in our parish, working in our community, or bringing more attention to our own Christian life, we’ll be provided with all that we need by God (Mark 6:7-13).  We don’t have to "worry" about our needs (although, we should still care for our feet!).

But beyond all of these, there was one line in the Gospel that held my attention.  "Shake the dust off your feet."  I began to think of all the times I was sure that I had the answer to someone else’s problems; when I was positive that if they would only listen to me, the world would be a better place, both for them and the rest of us.  And how I wanted to scream and holler at them when they didn’t listen.  How I wanted to hold them up as examples of what not to do when approached with the truth.  How I wanted them to know what a great deal they were missing out on.

I think we can assume that the disciples were the real deal.  The Gospel reports that they drove out demons and cured the sick.  But what were Jesus’ instructions to them as to what to do when they encountered someone that didn’t listen to them?  It wasn’t to yell louder.  It wasn’t to go get the other disciples and browbeat them into submission.  It was to just quietly leave and shake the dust from their shoes.  Simply let those who wouldn’t listen be.  Perhaps the time wasn’t ripe for them to listen.  Perhaps they would listen to the next pair of disciples.  Perhaps… well, perhaps this just wasn’t these disciples’ work to do.

My prayer today is that I recognize when God is telling me, "this is not your work to do."  I pray that I can carry the humility that Jesus taught when He said, "Shake the dust from your sandals and move on."