Grace and Space

Lk 9:1-6

From village to village: Jesus has already called a number of men to follow him, established a new Israel of Twelve, and attempted to form them into a community of believers. Now, they are sent on mission to proclaim the good news. Of course, the historical apostles are not Luke’s principal concern here, but his community at the time that this Gospel is being written.
Luke is demonstrating that the Church has been endowed by Jesus with the same gifts that Jesus possessed. Four miracles precede the missioning scene. This “power and authority” of Jesus is given to the Church. The Twelve (representative of the whole Church) are sent out to continue the work that Jesus has been performing—proclaiming the kingdom of God, exorcising demons, and healing the sick. Those who accept and undertake this mission are instructed to take nothing for the journey. Throughout the Gospel, Luke is insistent on absolute material detachment; authentic followers of Jesus rely on God, who will provide for the needs of the missionaries through those who receive them.
If they are not welcomed, then the missionaries are to detach themselves from those who do not provide a welcome. The symbolic gesture is that of shaking the dust from one’s feet. It indicates that nothing—not even the dust—of those not providing a welcome will be carried away with the missioner.