Breaking the Word

 King Herod heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him." Others were saying, "He is Elijah"; still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets." But when Herod learned of it, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up." Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him…

He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mk 6:14-29)

Today’s reading about Jesus, beginning of his ministry and the relationship with the mission of John the Baptist. Jesus suddenly appeared in public with his ministry. His appearance was so sudden that people begin to wonder who he was or from where he was coming. People in general see him as a prophet. People were accustomed to see a prophet or prophet’s activities. Those who have seen John the Baptist and his ministry wonder whether Jesus was John the Baptist (risen from the dead). Herod is one of such.

John the Baptist had been very clear about his preaching and his activities. As we read in the Gospels we see him preparing the way of the Lord. He was also sure that he was not the messiah. His work was also prophetic in the sense he spoke openly the truth and demanded that truth should be adhered to. And this is the reason that Herod and Herodias were angry and worried about his mission and Herodias wanted to end the life of John the Baptist.

Mark places this story about the death of John the Baptist here to tell his readers that Jesus began his ministry when John had completed his. John was the one who baptised Jesus at river Jordan but with regard to ministry we see that Jesus began as John had finished his ministry. But in the Gospel of John we see that there was overlapping of ministry for sometime. But the general view is that Jesus began as the other ended. That is the reason that Herod says that John has been raised from the dead.

 He 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. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mk 6:7-13)

Jesus came with a mission: To proclaim the kingdom of God and work for the realization of the kingdom. He did not keep it as his personal mission rather he called his disciples to do the very same things which he was doing. He shared his authority over evil spirits. He shared with his disciples all what he had.

His instructions were totally mission oriented. Ushering in the kingdom was not done from a place. He did not expect the people to come to him though many people came where he was. He moved around the villages and towns and he instructed his disciples go about the villages and towns. Mission included a journey. And that is the reason the instructions were all pertaining to journey.

When the disciples were not received in a place they were instructed by Jesus to leave the place. There is no time to coax, to convince or argue with the people. Leave them and move on to a place where the people were more receptive. The disciples were asked to shake off even the dust in a sense not to carry with them anything of that place. (not to be worried, not to be anxious about the failure etc). Yes, shake off even the dust.