The readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time present a vivid image of rejection! In Luke 10:5-12 the disciples are advised: "take off your sandals and shake the dust from them." Even your dust should be left behind. I can't imagine doing that - but it does seem to be the ideal way to express contempt for the hard-hearted fools that would not listen.
The action may seem less harsh if we recognize that the disciples have been sent into towns to heal the sick, bring peace and announce the coming of the Kingdom of God. What are they to do if the townspeople would rather remain sick than to accept healing? They should simply leave. Recall that in last Sunday's gospel (Luke 9:51-56) James and John wanted to call down lightening on a town that wouldn't listen. The sad part of it is that those who would rather remain sick will find that "it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
The lesson to me is detachment. We offer help and healing where we can. Our resources are limited and it is inevitable that some will not hear the good news. When that happens, we should simply move on. Shaking the dust from our sandals is not done to insult the town we are leaving. It is a reminder that we should not carry bad memories with us. Leave the baggage behind. There is work to do elsewhere.
P.S. Let's not forget that Isaiah 66 gives us a vivid image of God as nurturing mother.
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