14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025
Isaiah 66:10-14 Galatians 6: 14-18 Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20
Our liturgies for the past six Sundays have been celebrations of the great events of the early Church along with the celebration of what the Lord has left us a memorial of Himself and then we honoured the two great pillars of the Church, Peter the Rock on which the Church was founded and Paul who brought the Good News of the Kingdom to all of us.
It is now time to for us to consider how all of this touches our lives as we try to live out our calling as disciples. Disciples are those who are called, who hear and who follow. Disciples are faithful to their Master and Teacher and Disciples are sent!
In the Gospel passage immediately preceding today’s Gospel Reading Jesus tells his disciples: ‘The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’ (Luke 9:58). Disciples following such a leader would not be encouraged or feel any security! Such is the fate of disciples. Those who follow Jesus are to be people on the move, who think differently, who don’t rely on worldly goods or securities and who don’t expect earthly rewards.
Today’s Gospel Reading is a comprehensive lesson on discipleship given by Jesus to the 72 who are being sent. ‘Being sent’ is the honour bestowed on the disciples. They are the ones who are to do the Lord’s work and they are to do it everywhere. The number 72 recalled the number of Gentile nations listed in Genesis – symbolic of the worldwide extent of the Mission. And, the Mission is to proclaim that ‘the Kingdom of God has come’.
The Kingdom of God is proclaimed, not by words but by actions; the only words that they are to utter, it seems, are “Peace to this house”. The rest is action and presence
Their presence is one which will not rely on props such as purses or baggage or fancy trimmings and they will rely on the hospitality that is offered them. The manner of their mission would be new also. They go on mission, not as individuals but ‘two by two’. People would see their mutual sharing and caring. People would see a new thing, charity in action! They will need to show stability in the way they live and they will show gratitude for what they receive. Their actions will resemble the actions of the Lord himself – laying hands on the sick to cure them and driving out evil. And, they can feel confident that those who reject their mission will be the ones who to be punished.
And where will all of this leave the disciples? The end of apostolic ministry does not consist in personal success or adulation. These disciples come back to boast of their triumphs but the Lord seems unimpressed! The only things that might give them joy and satisfaction is that they have been called, chosen, that their names are forever written in the annals of the Lord in Heaven. What they have done was done, not in of their own power or will but, in the power of Him who chose them and sent them out.
Pope Saint Paul Vl put it very eloquently and clearly; “People today listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers. If they do listen to teachers it is because they are firstly witnesses”.
So, for us today’s lesson might be that the message of the Gospel must be lived before it is spoken. ‘What you ARE thunders so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying!
“Come and see the works of God, tremendous his deeds among his people” (Responsorial Psalm)