Return of the Seventy-two

Today's Reflections

                                                                             

Return of the Seventy-two

Lk 10:17-24

¹⁷The seventy[-two] [disciples] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” ¹⁸Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. ¹⁹Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. ²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

²¹At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. ²²All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

²³Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN. Besides the Twelve, Jesus has appointed seventy(-two) disciples and sent them in pairs to prepare the people of the villages and towns he will visit. He has given them power to heal the sick and to preach the kingdom of God.

These disciples now return, having carried out their mission: they have driven out demons in Jesus’ name. They are understandably overjoyed. But Jesus tells them to rejoice not because the demons are subject to them but because their names are written in heaven.

Like the disciples, we Christians are sent to bring the good news of God’s kingdom to the world. We are missionaries leading others to Christ by our prayer and charity. We rejoice principally because we are saved: our names are written in heaven.

What gives you joy as a Christian?