reflection

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
УAt that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent ahead of
Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit. He said to them, Сthe
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 Е into whatever house you enter, first say, СPeace to
this household.Т Е say to them the kingdom of God is at hand for you.ТФ
How frequently we find pairs together in the scriptures. Two sets of brothers
were called from the fishing business. Two sisters offered hospitality to Jesus
in their home. Two distressed persons met the Lord on the way home to
Emmaus. By being together, there was a sense of support, strength and in the
words of Pope John Paul II, Уsolidarity.Ф
Today, we are all sent like the seventy-two to repeat the same message they
received. It is the message we find when Jesus begins His ministry in the
gospel of Mark. УRepent, the kingdom of God is at hand.Ф During the course of
two thousand years, throughout the history of the church, countless have
heard the message and accepted it in a most serious way. They try to adhere
to the call to conversion, communion and solidarity.
Unfortunately, countless others have not heard, or have chosen only part of
the message entrusted to the church. It is to these we are sent a second and
third time, to re-evangelize and express the urgency of the message. The
more we are convinced of the need for peace in a world which does not know
its existence, the more we live of the message of justice for all people, the
more we work to build the kingdom of Jesus in our own parish community, then
we will be responding to the mission of Jesus Christ in the year 2007.
In his clear and forceful teaching the late Holy Father told us all Уthe mission
of Christ the Redeemer, which He entrusted to His church, is still far from
completion.Ф During the less busy days of summer, letТs discover the way I will
contribute as He sends me as His companion to my world.

First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14c
Isaiah instructs the people of Jerusalem to rejoice, because God would restore
her prosperity. The people will better understand God's power through their
homeland's restoration.
Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
Paul describes the sign of the cross of Jesus as all that is significant. Following
the old laws is unimportant. Instead, being baptized in Christ and adhering to
his ideals is what matters most.
Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17- 20
Jesus sent forth seventy-two disciples to preach his good news, telling them
"the harvest is rich, but the workers few." He also gave them detailed
instructions on how to act towards the people. Jesus then reminded them not
to be happy because of their power over evil, but to rejoice in the salvation
they would achieve.