Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.
4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.
8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Carry almost nothing, but peace!
An inspirational text is offered this Sunday, helping us to concentrate on our role as missionaries to others. Being Jesus' disciple means we have a mission to proclaim.
The disciples are sent by Jesus to prepare for His imminent visits. They are instructed on their way of delivering the message, to be confident in God's presence and providence. Sure of their message, they are aware of the surrounding challenges and even dangers they may be exposed to. In Luke 10:3, they are to remain like lambs among wolves, an image of innocence, faithful to their message and aim, never responding to evil with evil, but with good deeds. The only message to proclaim is peace (Luke 10:5) that peace that only Jesus can give, the peace of the Prince of Peace.
Church history tells about how Christians were thrilled to receive a missionary or an ordained person as a guest of honor in their houses.
In Luke 10:17, the disciples accomplish their mission and go back to the sender, to whom they report their feed back. They experience a spiritual joy. They made it, and the Master is equally happy!
How do we read this gospel today? Do we remember that we are His disciples and we have a mission to fulfill?
Are we instruments of peace wherever we are---within our families, with our friends, in our job, with those we work with?
Do we report to Jesus at the end of our day with a spirit of thanksgiving and a joyful dialogue?
Are we proclaiming His presence and His desire to visit and remain with those who are ready to accept Him?!
Take a special moment to think about my personal commitment to His call, sending me to witness for Him today. May I experience this joy the disciples lived as they reported to Him about their success!