Attachment and Detachment

Attachment and Detachment.

7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 [a]Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. 9 Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; 10 no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter a house, wish it peace. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.[b]-Matthew10:7-13

When my friends and I would meet before, we have to wait and wait for the late person to arrive. Now, with phones readily available, we can proceed with other things and the late person will just catch up. With this, we can accomplish much rather than sitting and waiting for the late comers to arrive. I remember this experience when I read the Gospel reading because so many would say, 'I cannot live without a phone. I would die.' But the truth is, we can. I lived at a time when mobile phones are for the ultra elite only. No one can afford it. No one even wants to use it because it seems so expensive before. But now, everybody has one and is very affordable. It is true that it has many uses. But it is also true that we can live without it. Jesus today is teaching us about attachment and detachment. Too much detachment is not good. Too much attachment is not good too. What we all need is a balance of attachment and detachment. What we all must learn is the capacity to recognize and meet our needs (i.e. basic and daily needs), and letting go of the things that we want but not needed at all (i.e. a new phone when we already have one or a new bag when we still have one or two that can still be used). 

Mission and Purpose

Attach and Detach.

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.-Mark1:29-39

When we found a place that we call 'home,' sometimes it is difficult to let it go. Parents grieve over their children who must leave home to study, or marry or work somewhere else. It pains to leave a good job. It pains to leave a place that we learned to love. As I reflected in today's Gospel, I cannot help but wonder if Jesus felt at home in Simon's town. Remember that Jesus and His disciples are always traveling, perhaps sleeping on the road, eating leftover food. But when they stayed in Simon's house, there was possibly a bed for them, warm food and welcoming people. Perhaps it was nice to stay there, but Jesus was firm and focused in His mission and purpose - He was not born for a selected group of people only but to all mankind. What about us? If we know God's mission and purpose for us, are we willing to embrace and accept it even if it means leaving our comfortable life?

Image courtesy: Perfect Nature