14th Sunday of the Year
Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20
In today’s gospel reading we continue to follow the Mission of Jesus as recounted by Saint Luke. It has taken a big leap from the episode which we heard last Sunday. The number being sent out has been increased from the 12 apostles by the addition of the 72 others. The 12 Apostles were representative of the 12 tribes of Israel and now the 72 seem to suggest the 72 Gentile nations mentioned in Genesis. This mission was to be too the ‘whole world’.
There is a great urgency to the ‘sending out’ too. They are too ‘start off NOW’! They are not to be concerned about what to pack for the journey: no bags or baggage! They are to be focused on the mission and not be distracted along the way. If there is resistance to their mission they are to move on – there are more people waiting to receive the Good News!!
The Mission is to proclaim that the ‘Kingdom of God is very near to you’. It will be characterised by the message of Peace and the Healing of the sick.
Jesus does not provide his disciples with a script or with words of wisdom. But he does suggest specific details about their plan of action. They are to go ‘two by two’ and in this way express a mutual sharing and caring of each other, ever before a word is spoken. In fact, the only words that Jesus suggests are “Peace to this House”. This ‘Peace’ would allow the healing to happen and the Kingdom to be made manifest.
When the disciples returned to Jesus after their ‘first tour of duty’ they were elated at their ‘success’. Jesus was not impressed!
Had they not realised that the values of the Kingdom of God are not akin to those of the world? The fruits of their labours were not theirs to boast of, as Saint Paul would later realise and teach “I can boast only in the Lord”. All the efforts of the early missionaries were the result of the grace given them and the power of the Spirit working in them.
What they can rejoice in is that they have been chosen, chosen by God to be witnesses to the Kingdom and to the Truth. Witnessing does not require many words. In fact someone once said that “What you ARE thunders so loudly that we cannot hear what you are SAYING”!
All the lessons learnt by the 72 who were sent out are to be noted in our time to. The world still needs witnesses and we are constantly reminded that ‘actions speak louder than words’. Pope Saint Paul VI addressing teachers reminds us that we are all teachers when it comes to discipleship; “People today listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers. If they do listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”.
Lord, make us witnesses of your Truth and your Love and your Peace!