I must admit, Bible study and scripture always find me asking how God's words apply contextually to my life and how I am called to live God's word in today's reality. Each reading continues to occupy my mind's ponderings and my heart's daily devotion. Each reading continues to focus God's words into a daily question on the nature of my thoughts, words, and deeds -- how I, as a Child of God, am called to live in today's reality, and how exactly is that working for me? The questions generated within my ponderings are greater than the number of answers by far! I do find God's grace in that the few answers I do have, along with the multitude of questions, are both truly gifts of God. Without God I basically would not have any answers because I would not be aware of the questions. For that alone I give God thanks!

Our recent Sierra Pacific Synod Pastor's Mobility Conference used scripture from Mark 6:1-13 for those gathered to ponder and meditate upon Jesus sending out "The Twelve." The scripture study included the moment of Jesus sending His disciples out and telling them to "take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics." What was not part of our study was Mark 6:14-29, the next lectionary scripture reading, that tells of the relationship between John the Baptist and King Herod. Within this scripture, sadly, are the circumstances of this peculiar relationship that culminates with the beheading of John because King Herod "out of regard for his oaths" gives the order for John's death. Two points within the readings stand out for me:

First, Jesus sends the Twelve out into a harsh world with the barest of necessities with instruction to live on the hospitality and welcome of others. How different from Jesus' instructions are the needs of today that we feel must be fulfilled, including what we must take with us before going out into the world. For sure our list is long considering what the Twelve were told by Jesus to carry. Compared to what the Twelve go out with, I take a lot more with me into the world. I cannot seem to leave without some of it, those times when I forget something, I go back to get it. Apparently in sight of Jesus' words I bring a whole lot of baggage when I step out the door!

Second, the harsh world of the era into which Jesus sends the Twelve is populated and ruled by people like King Herod. Wow! This is a harsh world where unconscionable murder was committed by Herod simply out of regard for his oaths. I am not amazed to know that some may even today want to believe that Herod's world and era is purely a distant land rendered historical mostly by biblical documentation. Yet I do not believe it too much of a stretch...especially in a world where innocents are murdered in church and churches are burned down as recent events in Charleston emphasize; to ISIS and others terrorizing blameless people; to empirical conquest and warfare; to the ever-present ongoing militarization of law enforcement and its increasing violence upon the people officers are called to serve; to a global economy of the haves perpetually standing on the necks and backs of the have-nots. We possibly see that Herod's harsh world is not too much different from the world we are called by God to steward today.

Yes, there is a lot of pondering here for me concerning the baggage I carry as God sends me out into the world. I know that I have not committed literal murder like Herod. Still what figurative equivalent harm I may have committed is a pondering for me as I ask God just how much of my life is predicated upon my heeding the world through "oaths and regard for guests" instead serving God's world through and because of Our Lord's grace bestowed?

Yes, not many answers, but I am thankful to God for the multitude of questions!