Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.'”
He chose them and sent them out
1. He appointed them. It is Jesus who chooses you. He is the center, and as disciples we must take Him to others. You become a disciple because Jesus calls you and you fulfil a mission for Him. Jesus chooses you to be close to Him and then, to go out and announce the Good News. That announcement comes from Jesus’s call and from having an intimate relationship with Him. Remember that God chooses you and sends you out.
2) Sent out. Jesus’s followers cannot remain still, they cannot be lazy or lack dynamism to face things, they must create a giving atmosphere where Jesus is present. And to begin with, they must foster fraternity and peace. Jesus’s messengers are invited to heal people and relieve suffering. By this I am referring not only to priests and catechists, but also to each of us who make up the church. We are all called to announce Jesus. We must be people who help and relieve; not weigh down or push away our brothers and sisters.
3) Do not carry anything. The key is to put yourself in Jesus’s hands and walk with him, knowing that God will set people along your path for you to evangelize and enlighten. You must go out without prejudice and without your own pre-judgements. Go out and evangelize knowing that Jesus’s presence gives you the grace to face difficult situations. Abandon yourself to the Holy Spirit and you will have peace. God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Something good is on the way!
