Pastor's Message
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The harvestis plentiful, but the labourers are fes; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; Rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast.
The Words of Isaiah, the Prophet, in the closing Chapter of his book, as he encouraged the returning exiles who were disheartened after witnessing their beloved city, Jerusalem, in ashes, their Temple in ruins.
The People of God, the remnant, who had survived the sad experience of exile, of being crushed like grapes, in Babylon, were now being promised through a Motif of a Mother, the Hope of becoming the True Receptors of the Promise made to Abraham.
“For the Lord will spread his prosperity over them as a river. And you shall nurse and be carried on her arm, and dandled on her knees. As a Mother comforts her child so would the Lord God comfort you!”
What an uplifting Message! What an assuring sign by the Faithful God by whose intervention, the lives of those who trust Him are transformed! What an assuring hope!
This Hope, in the fullness of time, was realized in Christ Jesus, in whom, God’s Plan of Salvation for humanity is actualized.
In the Gospel Reading today, we witness him appoint and commission seventy-two disciples, to participate in the proclamation of the truth that God was in their midst.
The Mission of the 72, unlike that of the 12 earlier, that was exclusive to the Israelites was a Mission to all; It’s a universal mission. Why the Number Seven two? Some, Bible scholars find the foundation of the number (72 or 70) in Genesis 10:2-31; which is a description of the descendants of the sons of Noah after the floods! (Such were the clans of Noah, listed by descent and nations. From them other nations branched out on earth after the flood) 72, also were the of languages of people that resulted after the confusion of tongues in the tower of Babel. It was before the Towel of Babel where humanity was described as one for the last time before they were dispersed after their attempt to reach God by their own effort and abilities! -
Luke, the Evangelist, himself a gentile saw the commissioning of the seventy as a Mission to all peoples of the World. Christ sent the seventy-two with an urgent Mission to proclaim; The question then was; what was the message? What were they to communicate? Unlike the Apostles, after the resurrection, who are to proclaim Salvation through Christ’s Death and Resurrection; What were these disciples to preach?
The answer is found a few verses above what we read today. In Luke the confession of Peter, the Apostles after Jesus had asked the questions; who do people say that I AM? Who do you say I AM? Peter had responded on our behalf; “Christ of God.” In the Gospel of Mathew, he answered; “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” To underline the significance of this confession, Jesus had exalted Peter; “Blessed are you, Simon Son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father.”
God, in his own generosity and love had come and was physically present among His People. This was the message they were to preach, “The Kingdom of God present at hand;” “God was present among His People.”
Brothers and Sisters, it’s Eden all over again, God is Present among His People in the Person of Christ Jesus. With Authority and Power founded in Christ and the Spirit, evil is certainly bound to be defeated. And when you are blessed to witness the defeat of evil, Christ reminds us what is important; You are Members of God’s Household!
“Rejoice, rather, that your names are written in heaven.”
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