Today's Reflections
The Mission of the Seventy-two
Lk 10:1-9
1The Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2He
said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask
the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
4Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7Stay
in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the
laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to
another. 8Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ ”
THE LABORERS ARE FEW. Today is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist whom early Christian tradition identifies as the author of the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
He was a native of Antioch in Syria and a physician by profession. He
became a disciple of the apostle Paul, following him in his missionary
journeys and even in the apostle’s imprisonment in Rome (cf Phlm 24; Col
4:14; 2 Tm 4:11). Another Christian tradition describes Luke as an
artist, the first icon painter of the Virgin Mary and of the apostles
Peter and Paul.
In
the Gospel, Jesus appoints 70/72 disciples whom he sends in pairs on a
mission to the villages and towns he intends to visit. They are to
travel light, relying on divine providence and Jewish hospitality. They
are to proclaim the kingdom of God and cure the sick.
The
disciples are also admonished to pray for more laborers. Jesus’ call
remains relevant today. There is need to pray God to inspire more men
and women to continue the mission of Christ, the mission of helping
people to know, love, and serve God.
Read Lk 1:1-4 for Luke’s purpose in writing
his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.
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