Two by Two

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two 

and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick—
no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic. 
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. 
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.” 
So they went off and preached repentance. 
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

He sent them two by two...not alone.  Do you know who does that today?  The Jehovah's Witnesses send their sales force two and the Latter Day Saints send two of their missionary teams out two by two as well. Why did Jesus and why do these pseudo-Christian groups do the same? 

First of all, if you are taking your show on the road and your message is not your own, having a second follower of your faith beside you help to ensure that the message you are delivering is pure and faithful to the one you were taught.  You are unlikely to go off the approved path if you have another with you to remind you when you turn left when the roadmap you were given says to go straight ahead. 

Secondly, the fact that there are two of you present allows you to engage in "double teaming."   By re-enforcing each other you present a solid front and a stronger message. Two of you there means that you are better able to answer objections to what you are preaching, you are less likely to have nothing to say if an objection catches you by surprise, and you and your companion are putting subtle social pressure on your target to come to your point of view.  Man is a social animal and cohesion among the herd is looked at as a strength. 

Third, by sending your disciples out in this fashion, you are building a team and forming a bond between brothers who will carry your message with more authority evident in the words used to convey it.  

Was Jesus using these tricks of the trade?  I think that He must have been.  This was the first time He sent His teachings out using other people.  He would want all of the strength that the team method would bring to the mission.  He certainly knew what He was doing.  

What about us?  We are the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus on earth.  We cannot leave the evangelizing to the priests and bishops.  As good as these people are at what they do, they do not have the same contacts as we do.  They can reach people through the media, through the power of their homilies but they cannot reach the guy that lives one floor down in your building.  It is up to us to evangelize everyone we meet.  I do not mean you have to stand on the corner thumping your Bible and screaming at people.  You may not even have to say one word.  An act of kindness, a bright smile, taking time out to feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, make a sacrifice from deep inside you for another and do so with a smile and never expect a return for your generosity. But what about going two by two?  Well, you always have Jesus at your side when you are doing His work.  He will not let you work alone. 

This Sunday please pray for the poor souls in purgatory.  If you don't believe in purgatory, please consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church for what the Church actually teaches and believes.  To the right on the screen, I have posted some information.  Click on the link to view it.