Shake The Dust Off And Move On!

[BarbTherese]

I'm not putting this in Transmundane as the text I am quoting is not a Catholic source, but I felt it an interpretation of "shake the dust off your sandals" that appealed to me, spoke to me and in my life here and now.

 

(Matthew Ch 10 "[14] And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet.)

 

 

 

http://confidenceandjoy.com/shake-the-dust-off-your-feet/

[The Bible is an “Eastern” book.  It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.”  As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]

In the Gospels, you read of Jesus sending out the twelve to preach.  One of the things he told them was that if people didn’t want to hear what they had to say they were to depart and, “shake off the dust of your feet.”

Paul and Barnabas in Acts, Chapter 13, “shook off the dust of their feet,” when they were expelled out of Antioch.

To our Western minds that sounds a little odd. In fact, it almost sounds a little arrogant.  But, again, understanding the Eastern mind gives us great insight.

It Is Not Literal

First of all, it is not literal.  They did not take off their sandals and shake the dust off.  It is an Eastern idiom.  It has to do with what you walk away with in your mind, what you carry in your mind.

This Eastern idiom means to shake off any animosity or bitter feelings which you may have toward someone.  In doing so, when you leave, you leave with peace in your heart and mind.  You don’t take with you any resentment for others.  In other words, don’t take any anger, hurt, blame or regret with you when you leave.

If Jesus sent you out to preach, then you would certainly want people to respond favorably to the message.  But when people don’t respond favorably, you might be tempted to be upset with them.  How could they refuse?  What’s wrong with them?

Shaking the dust means that you don’t carry any of that with you.  And the same is true if they treat you poorly.  You don’t carry any of that with you either.  You leave it all there and move on.

Leave It All Behind

Shaking off the dust means you leave all thoughts of ill feeling behind, and move forward with God’s peace in your heart and mind.  It is the responsibility of those who hear the message what they do with it – accept it or reject it.

 

Sometimes Christians feel obligated to make people accept the Good News and obligated to make them believe something.  When you share the Good News you are simply a messenger, like the twelve were, like Paul and Barnabas.  You and I are not responsible for people’s response.  And you really don’t want to allow people’s negative responses to weigh you down in your mind.

 

Shake the dust from your feet, and move on.

 

Edited February 22, 2015 by BarbaraTherese

[dUSt]

I thought you were talking about me.

[Anastasia13]

I thought you were talking about me.

Perhaps this is her attempt to make a theological discussion as though you were no longer phatmass owner/amin?

[BarbTherese]

I thought you were talking about me.

 

Nah.........don't take anything you post on board, oh honourable, revered and fearless leader!