Two by Two
Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 6:7-13 - Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority…”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
This is the first mission of the organized Church. Look what Jesus sends the apostles out to do. He sends them out to do what He has been doing—preaching repentance, driving out demons, curing the sick. But how can these common men do the same things that God in the flesh does? The secret is this: He gives them His authority. Jesus has authority over the physical and the spiritual realms. So when the apostles go out on this mission, awesome things happen. The apostles don’t accomplish anything with their own authority, but they accomplish much with Christ’s.
Today, the Church continues on this mission. It troubles many people that the Church claims to work with Christ’s authority in the world today. But Scripture shows clearly that that’s how Christ set it up while He was walking the earth, and that is how he left the Church after His Ascension. The things the apostles have authority to do—teach and heal—are the same things the modern Church has authority to do. We should have confidence that the Church spreads Christ’s teachings and gives Christ’s healing in the Sacraments. During prayer, consider how the Church has been a gift from Christ to us.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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