14^th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C); 7-03-2022

Is 66:10-14.  Ps 66.  Gal 6:14-18.  Lk 10:1-12,17-20

Deacon Jim McFadden

            Today’s Gospel  is about a people who are on a journey—specifically, one of mission.  Moreover, not just any people, but 72 disciples to be exact, in addition to the 12 Apostles.  Why 72?  The number 72  is not random, but likely refers to all the nations known at that time.  Indeed, we see this reference in the Book of Genesis in which 72 different nations are mentioned (cf. 10:1-32).  Thus this primordial reference prefigures the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.  So,  Jesus says to those 72 disciples: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Lk 10:2).

            Fast forward to 2022, Jesus is speaking to us today.  Why?  By virtue of our baptism, we have been initiated into the Body of Christ, the Church.  And, in so doing we become a member of the People of God. And, together we are People on a journey to continue Jesus’ Mission of proclaiming the Good News and bringing about the Kingdom of God.

 Jesus’ request is always valid; it’s never outdated.  Consequently,  we must always pray to the “Lord of the harvest,” namely, God the Father, that he send laborers into the field which is the world.  This request by Jesus is a call for “all hands on deck!”  As the People of God, we’re all in this together so we pray with an open heart, with a missionary zeal that our Father will send laborers to join us in this endeavor.  We really need help, we need each other to actualize Jesus’ Mission.  Indeed, this is not just a need among others,  but is  an utter necessity because this is what the Church is meant to do: to bring about the Kingdom.  That’s why prayer, if it is truly Christian, is universal in its scope, which is why the Church is catholic.

            In sending out the 72 disciples, Jesus gave them precise instructions, which gets right to the heart of the Mission.  The first is that they must be people of prayer, which permeates our soul with his Presence and empowers us to do his will.  Prayer underscores the basic truth that God is the Doer and we are his instruments.  Prayer keeps us connected to the Triune God as “we move, live, and have our being” in Him.  Without prayer, we won’t be acting out of God’s power, but that of our egoic imperative, which simply can’t sustain us in the long run.

            The second instruction is Go!  We’ve got our marching orders: let’s get going in our time in our place to do the Lord’s bidding.  As Catholics, we’re meant to be a people on the move; we can’t be idle;  we can’t be religious “couch potatoes” as we’re called to “full, conscious, and active participation” in our faith, exemplified most perfectly in the Eucharist.

            Moreover, we’ve got to travel light.  We hear “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals” (v. 4).  Being missionary disciples requires that we’re not bound by our attachments, addictions, and obsessions.  We have to be detached from the goods of the world; we have to be “poor in spirit” if we’re going to go where the Spirit will lead us. 

            If we do the Father’s will, if we cooperate with the movement of the Holy Spirit, then these mutual endeavors will bring positive outcomes:  “Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’…do not go from house to house, (but stay awhile)…heal the sick in it and say to them, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you” (vs.7-9).   Peace and healing, these are the signs that the Kingdom is being realized.  And, if they don’t listen, receive your message “go out into the streets and take your leave” (vs. 9-10).  Being a Missionary Disciple is not about proselytizing, but enthusiastically proclaiming and witnessing the Good News.  It requires a simple frankness in which we convey the Gospel in a straightforward, compelling, convincing, and comprehensive manner.  Evangelization is not about us, but  grounded in the author of the Good News who is Truth itself.  We’re just the conduit; so, we have to have the evangelical freedom to leave while highlighting the responsibility that some will reject the message of salvation.  We do so without condemnation and cursing.  We just move on “to the next town.”

            If we carry out our baptismal promises in these terms, the mission of the Church will be characterized by joy, which is the best indication of God’s presence.  When the 72 disciples returned from their missionary endeavors, we hear that they “…returned rejoicing” (v. 17) which is not an ephemeral joy that resulted in the success of their mission: e.g., they obtained so many converts.  Rather, they were joyful because they we’re doing the Father’s will as modeled by his beloved Son Jesus.  So, their joy is rooted in the promise that—as Jesus says: “Your names are written in heaven” (v. 20).  By listening to Jesus, by following his Way, by sharing in his Mission, they will experience an inner joy, an indestructible joy that is born out of the awareness of being called by God to follow his Son.  That is the joy that comes from being a disciple of Jesus. 

            Brothers and sisters, on the day of our baptism, we were given a name and that name is “written in heaven;”  it is written in the heart of God the Father.  And, it is this joy, this connection with the Triune God that makes us missionary disciples: those who walk in the company of the Lord Jesus, who learn from him,  and who imitate him by expending themselves for others, free of oneself and the goods of the world.  Again, we pray, go, and travel light to bring the Good News to the world.  Amen.