Is it fear that pressures us to rely on modern technological advances to communicate? An intriguing question, perhaps. Are we too afraid to depend on the gift of memory? Is this the “power” mentioned in the passage from Mark’s gospel?

Mark writes about the power gave by Jesus upon those he sent out. However, he also instructed them on how important it was not to be restricted by unnecessary ‘baggage’. No extra tunic, one pair of sandals; little, presumably, in the way of food or money.

To be able to trust in the generosity of others is a great virtue, particularly in a society that nowadays rarely goes anywhere without a cell phone or laptop. Is it fear that we are relying more and more on artificial methods of communication? Is it true that we can no longer rely on memory, one of the greatest gifts of the Holy Spirit? The Twelve Apostles had no such restrictions or concerns in their preaching, going out to the entire world to share the Good News.

Remembering the great Christian preachers of the past, Paul & Barnabas, Dominic & Francis of Assisi, Vincent McNabb, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King, and, in more recent times, our own contemporaries, what inspires the preaching of the Good News is the News itself. The gospels never cease to inspire, regardless of how often we visit them – in fact, the more often we approach the ‘Word’, the greater the impact it should have on our lives, the more Christ’s power is working.

Jesus sent his disciples, his preachers, out into the world with a clear message: “Tell the world the Good News that I have given you.” Nothing else was necessary; no advertising, no TV commercials, no computerized back-ups; simply the word as it is given to them should be passed on without adding ‘baggage’.

The ability to preach the gospel, therefore, depends not only on externals but on a desire to convince one’s listeners of the validity, the truth, of the message one preaches. The impact of healing powers given by Christ and through faith can be varied, and no doubt was, and still is.

The Acts of the Apostles tells us that Christ sent his ambassadors into the world; however, Mark tells us that the Twelve set out and preached repentance, casting out demons, and anointing and healing many who were sick. St. Paul’s letters provide a more detailed & graphic overview of the impact of his early preaching.

The current ambassadors of the Word have a distinct legacy to cherish in their bringing the Good News to the world of today. Modern technology should help in that task, as it allows the message to reach beyond the boundaries of conventional church. Moreover, we should recognize the power that goes with the preaching of the Good News. Even the poorest of preachers can produce a powerful outcome in the minds of those who listen.

There is a warning: if there are people who refuse to listen, then we should not be afraid to shake off the dust from the feet, and leave the task to another person, possibly at another time.

They seem to listen but messages in this Passage from Mark tell us two things; one, that Christ’s church must not allow itself to get clogged down with too much “baggage”, too many irrelevant additional rules that may detract from the preaching message; and two that they must be prepared for those who refuse to listen, but stay determined to continue to preach the Good News in the same way that Christ himself continually preached.