Blood, Sweat And Tears

In a recent magazine cartoon, a job applicant is depicted seated across a desk from the hiring manager. With the interview obviously coming to its conclusion, the applicant has a worried look on his face as the interviewer says, “So that’s our offer: blood, sweat, tears and dental.” -1 Funny stuff. These days, I don’t know how many employers are offering dental, but this I do know. At least metaphorically speaking, work often does require our blood, sweat and tears.

In today’s Gospel Lesson, Mark tells us that Jesus “summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs . . . So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them” (Mk.6:7,13). As we have learned, those first twelve were willing to not only commit their blood, sweat and tears — but their very lives. It is very early in Jesus’ public ministry but already He is sending out…