“I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing… an alleluia!”

In response, the next person declares, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing… an alleluia and a Bible!”

The road-trip game served several purposes. First, it helped pass the time while traveling. The monotony of the car ride can be “boring,” though most of us are quite capable of being bored in many other circumstances. Second, the simple game could at least pause any squabbles or arguments (in the back seats or the front). Third, it exercises our skills in both thinking creatively and listening to one another. And perhaps most meaningfully, it reminds us that what we bring on a journey matters.

Of course, not all packing lists are for picnics. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a different kind of packing list—and it’s remarkably short. In the Gospel, Jesus simplifies our list of priorities. The slogan no longer holds true: “Bags fly free.” Our luggage is a weight that makes the journey more difficult. When we travel with a lot of stuff, we not only need to fit it in our vehicle, but we must also bear its weight. It tires us out. And likewise becomes another source of anxiety – many people fear the loss of luggage, especially when flying.

Jesus understood that our baggage has a cost. It takes time to plan and pack, and it increases the cost of travel, especially for those who have to carry everything on foot. Yet the most significant cost of our “stuff” is the distraction from the purpose of our mission. We are meant to encounter the other, offering renewed hope and the peace that is found in Christ alone. Stuff often gets in the way. Wealth and riches will not lead to greater success. Simplicity is essential for the disciple. Simplicity removes the clutter that prevents us from putting our whole attention on the person before us.

Yet you might be thinking, “Fr. Mike, why does God promise us prosperity and wealth if it becomes a hindrance?” The Lord’s prosperity does not come to us in riches or possessions but in grace. As the Gospel concludes, “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Please keep in your prayers our wonderful parish staff, particularly Fr. George Asigre, Greg Sinclair, and Matthew York, who are beginning their ministries at OLPH. Pray for a healthy transition. And continue your prayers, asking the “master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Our prayer might be, “Lord, call someone to do this tough work, proclaiming the Kingdom of God.” The more authentic and honest aspect of the prayer is “How are you calling me to laborer with and for you, Lord?” Our parish needs engaged and committed disciples. I can assure you, though, the benefits are out of this world!