XIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 10:1-12,17-20
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus prepares his disciples for the mission, not only giving them the principles that should guide them but also making it possible to have a personal pastoral experience. So “the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.” We may be surprised by the number 72, and ask ourselves about its meaning, since most of the numbers in the Bible are symbolic. In Genesis 10 (in the Septuagint), we are presented with a list of 72 nations, which stand for the whole world. Choosing 72 disciples, Jesus indicates that the mission entrusted to the disciples is universal; he sends them to all peoples and nations. Jesus is aware that the mission is bigger than what they can manage: “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few”. It has been like that throughout the centuries, and the situation seems to be getting worse. That’s why we must heed Jesus’ advice: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.”
The disciples go in the name of Christ and with the mission of Christ. The message they are going to preach is a message of peace, the peace that is God’s gift and which accompanies his Kingdom.
As he sends them out into the world, Jesus warns them of the dangers that they will face: they should not expect an easy life; instead, they will be attacked by wolves, that is they will be rejected and persecuted. As for themselves, they should have a simple and poor way of life. They must concern themselves only with the mission entrusted to them. Single-minded about that, they should not waste their time on things that distract them from their mission.
Like those first disciples, all of us are sent so that we announce the good news of God's gracious and loving gift: God offers peace to all because he calls all to his kingdom. We are sent as a community, and the mission entrusted to us cannot be accomplished by each one of us individually. We have to walk together, being in communion with one another. We must bear witness as families and as a community. Let us not have illusions, we will encounter difficulties, opposition and rejection and, perhaps, even persecution. But it is being like Christ that we will draw others to Christ. Nothing - be it wealth, power, or glory - must be a hindrance to our proclamation, which must be simple and direct: "Know that the kingdom of God is at hand."
The mission of those first disciples was very successful, and they came back full of happiness. Jesus acknowledged their success but warned them about the danger of allowing themselves to be inebriated with power and glory. Their only reason for joy is that the Lord has their names written in heaven.
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