Well, there was a 17-year-old boy who just got his driving permit and so he went to his father to discuss with him his hopes for using the family car. And his dad said, “I’ll make you a deal. Bring your grades up in school, help with a few more chores around the house, try to read the Bible about 10 minutes each day and get your hair cut. Then we can talk about using the car.” 

Well, a few weeks went by and the father went to his son and said, “son, I’m so proud of you. You’ve done everything that I’ve asked you. You’ve brought your grades up. You’re reading the bible sometime a little bit each day-but your hair. Son, you haven’t cut your hair.” 

And the son said to his father, “Look, I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve read in the bible that samson had long hair. Moses and Noah and even Jesus had long hair.” 

And the father looked at him very calmly and said, “That’s true. And they walked everywhere.” 

Today we travel by foot, by car, by air, by rail, by ship. Wherever we go, however, we go and Jesus says to us, “Travel light.” 

That’s what we heard in this gospel. But is he talking about carrying luggage with us? No, not at all. What Jesus is reminding us all is this. Don’t be overwhelmed by the material things and the material values that often can weigh us down. 

And so our readings today remind us, clearing out the clutter of our lives. We can make more room for our spirits to be more conscious of the important values of God. And you and I know, that is a constant struggle. So Jesus reminds us to focus – not on the things that we accumulate, but on the things of God.  

Kingdom values like love for others, forgiveness, reconciliation, kindness, compassion, generosity and service. How are we focusing on these things? Kingdom values. These are the kingdom values that are found readily within the human heart. 

When Jesus calls us to repentance today, he’s asking us to consider cutting out all those things that take our focus away  from these kingdom values. 

And so today, we’re simply asked and challenged to reflect on, are we focusing more on worldly comfort than on Christ like living and loving? Kingdom values.