Mark 6:7-9
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
There is much that is questionable and confusing about the theology of the 13th century friar, Francis of Assissi, but what confused people even then was how a son of a wealthy family could get rid of everything and live a life of poverty. Francis may have pointed to these verses from Mark to explain it. Jesus himself had no place to lay his head and here he is sending his apostles (sent out ones) all over Palestine with a robe and a stick. His reason was clear. They were to live on what was provided for them by God through the kindness of strangers. Their guiding principle was simply, “God will provide”.
That has become such an alien notion in our consumerist society that we have no reference point to ponder it. Yet there are many missionaries in distant and dangerous lands living under that very same principle, that God will provide their means, their support, their transportation, and their safety. Apart from that, they had no assurance of any sort of luxury. The only thing they could count on was that when Jesus sent them out (apostolos), he promised that he would be with them always, until the end of the age. That means, until the end of the age, God will provide.
O Heavenly Father, you have sent us forth but you go on before and beside us. May we march forth in the assurance that you will provide. In Jesus’ name. Amen.