Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
Later the Lord chose seventy-two other followers and sent them out two by two to every town and village where he was about to go. He said to them:
A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in. Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. Don’t take along a moneybag or a travelling bag or sandals. And don’t waste time greeting people on the road. As soon as you enter a home, say, “God bless this home with peace.” If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don’t move around from house to house. If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer. Heal their sick and say, “God’s kingdom will soon be here!
But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, “We are shaking the dust from our feet as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God’s kingdom will soon be here!” I tell you that on the day of judgement the people of Sodom will get off easier than the people of that town!
You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are also in for trouble! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads. On the day of judgement the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will. People of Capernaum, do you think you will be honoured in heaven? Well, you will go down to hell!
My followers, whoever listens to you is listening to me. Anyone who says “No” to you is saying “No” to me. And anyone who says “No” to me is really saying “No” to the one who sent me.
When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!”
Jesus told them:
“I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven”
Gospel Reflection
Faith – the Tradition of the Trinity, the Death and Resurrection and teachings of Jesus Christ and Culture – the tradition of what the buildings look like, what we wear, where we sit and what we sing. One is Eternal and the other is transitory. We should be careful not to mix them up.
It’s the real Tradition that should really involve us and as Christians we should have read the small print; it wasn’t just the Twelve that were chosen (not just the priests and religious today) but everyone who considers themselves a Christian is a disciple. Sent out, not to build buildings, not to mix only with other Christians, not to play it safe; but to bring peace and healing and the Kingdom of God.
That’s our responsibility now. We have to prove to the ‘Church’, to society, to ourselves that the image may be changing, that it may be time for a ‘make-over’ but that the only real way for the
Church to stay alive is always to go back, to return to the source, to the Word, to be sent out all over again.