LESS IS MORE
Did you ever hear about the expression 'less is more'? It's a quote from a famous german architect who created a style stated with extreme clarity and simplicity, a sort of minimalist design. Well, this motto – less is more – could be the perfect abstract of today's gospel.
Jesus sends the Twelve to announce his word. But, instead of explaining them what to say, he commands them how to say. Yes, exactly, Jesus seems to pay more attention to the form rather than the substance. That sounds a bit strange. Don't you think? Jesus gives to the disciple authority over unclean spirits, sending them out two by two. Why? What does it mean? How going two by two could be an authority over others' devils? The first sign of the kingdom of God is the capacity to stay with the others, to carry on good connections. In fact, when we see two people walking together in peace and harmony, we don't see only two, but we see three. We see also the love, the friendship that keeps them side by side. Often the unclean spirit who dwells inside us is the spirit of loneliness, the fear to be wrong or unpleasant. That's why Jesus tells the disciples to go two by two. Each of us, every day, has many opportunities to live this command, because we are in connection with many people: parents, children, friends, companions, and so on. Sometimes we live close to the others, but we are not truly well connected with them. We are unplugged, closed in ourself.
Then Jesus carries on with the instructions and commands to the disciple to take nothing for the journey, except for a walking stick and the sandals. No food, no sack, no money, not a second tunic. This is unbelievable! How can we practice these words?! Is Jesus preaching to be poor people? I don't think that poverty is exactly the point. Jesus instructs the disciple to take nothing before the journey, that is he is telling them to have faith in the Father. That's the point! Sometimes we have a very little faith in God's providence and so we spend a lot of energies to provide for ourselves, to take care of us, to look after our interests. But more we have, more we have to defend. When we have the sack full, often we have also the mouth closed. We can talk about God, the Father. Just because our heart is full of our things.
In short, Jesus in today's Gospel is telling us that nothing is necessary to be a good christian except living true relationships, good connections with the others, and having faith in God, the Father. That's all! Anything else may be or not, it's not essential.
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