1 Timothy 6:2-12 / Lk 8:1-3
The gospel passage might give us a kind of rosy impression, that Jesus and his happy disciples were making their way through the countryside preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God.
But if we bother to read what went on earlier, we would know that Jesus had already experienced criticism and even hostility.
He had incurred the wrath of the scribes and Pharisees, and there was mounting pressure against Him.
So who were those people that were following such a "black-listed" man? And what do they want from Him, or what use was He to them?
Well, at least for the women following Jesus, they had experienced some form of healing from Jesus, be it a healing from physical or spiritual ailments.
They now show their gratitude by following Jesus and supporting Jesus in His ministry and also in His time of need.
But they were not obliged to. Neither were the 12 apostles obliged to follow Jesus especially when He was creating such a dangerous reputation for Himself.
Yet they were not just followers. They had become His disciples.
They had seen the truth in Jesus and they too want to walk the way of truth.
Similarly, if we really want to be disciples of Jesus, we must walk the way of truth.
The 1st reading sums up basically the truth of life in the words of St. Paul: We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. as long as we have food and clothing, let us be content with that.
To long for more would indicate that our love for God is waning and we are getting distracted by the love of this world.
That is a simple truth. But to follow that truth would require a letting go and a dying to self.
May Jesus give us the faith to fight the good fight and win for us the eternal life He promised us.