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The Holy Gospel According to Luke (10:1-9).
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection: In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus appointing and sending out 72 disciples to evangelize others, letting them know that, “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” He sent them out in pairs, not as individuals, and told them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” He also told them that their task would not be easy and to rely on God’s providence and the generosity of people they encountered.
This message is also for all of us today. We are also called to be messenger of God’s message of love and mercy. This is not something we do alone. God equips us with the grace we need and a church community to help, pray and support us. We are called to be instruments of peace and healing. As we go out into our environments, may we trust in God’s providence, knowing that His Kingdom in near through our words and actions.
Today is the Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist. Luke was a Gentile from Antioch in Syria. In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul identifies him as the “beloved physician.” He is also traditionally known as the author of the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles. Luke accompanied St. Paul on some of his evangelizing journeys. Luke’s Gospel is sympathetic, extending forgiveness and salvation, towards the Gentiles, Samaritans, the lowly, the outcasts, the poor, and the disreputable. Luke writes about this in the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, parables that appear only in his Gospel. Luke also gives women a prominent position in his Gospel, and they play leading roles in the story of Jesus despite their social status in the ancient world. The three Gospel canticles in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Canticle of Zechariah, the Magnificat and Simeon’s Canticle are all found in Luke’s Gospel.
Action for the Day: As baptized Catholic Christians, we are an extension of the 72 disciples sent out by Jesus. We are called to be Catholic Evangelists, letting others know the love, compassion and mercy of Jesus. We are called to let others know the Kingdom of God is at hand. Pray for the grace to help us spread this message to those we encounter.
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