Readings for Sunday July 4th, 2010 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Summary

Ever wonder why Jesus delegates His work when, as the Second Person of the Trinity, He could just do everything Himself? In this Gospel reading, Jesus tags seventy-two of His closest buddies to do a little reconnaissance work for Him in the field. (Some Scripture translations have Jesus picking only seventy for this mission. Bonus question: Who else, in the Old Testament, picked out seventy men to work for him? If you can’t find it on your own, see Numbers 11:24-25.) Notice how the text says seventy-two ‘others’, meaning not the Twelve.
We don’t know exactly who these people are, but we do see that Jesus is sending them out ahead of Himself as part of His plan to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus sends them out with nothing, no money, no luggage, no shoes, no credit card. Why would Jesus ask the seventy-two to do this? Because He is testing the ‘soil’, checking out which places are most receptive to His Word and message. His message, that we should be living completely for the Kingdom, is a radical message that calls for total commitment. By sending the seventy-two out with nothing, Jesus is finding out who is ready to support His followers and hear His message and who isn’t ready to hear it.
By sending the seventy-two out, Jesus is also incorporating others to help Him. Jesus doesn’t need the seventy-two: He is divine, and doesn’t need anyone to help Him. Rather, Jesus chooses others to help Him with His ministry as a way of getting them involved with the plan. Jesus’ ministry isn’t only about Him: It’s also about Him enlisting others to be mediators of His mission. Just as Jesus used the seventy-two to help Him, Jesus calls you and me to work with Him. All of us have a vocation in life, a ‘job’ that we are called to do in order to help bring Christ to the world. This call is made to each one of us individually. It is key for all of us, as followers of Jesus, to never downplay the importance of our purpose in life.
God has things in store for us to do that only we are called to do. We exist on earth to help God spread His love to the world – and there is no ‘backup plan’ to us. We are essential in God’s plan of salvation. Let’s take a look at an example: The Blessed Virgin Mary. We have no evidence that, if Mary had said ‘no’, God had a back-up plan. As far as we know, if Mary had said ‘no’ to God, then Jesus would not have come to earth, and heaven would not be open to us. While you and I are not as important as Mary to the equation of salvation, God still has called each one of us to be a key player in His plan. Perhaps our ‘yes’ to God will touch one person in such a way that, without our ‘yes’, that person would have gone down the wrong path.
If that was the case, would you say ‘yes’ to God, even though you couldn’t see the fruit of your effort? Would you say ‘yes’ to God even if it was only going to benefit one person? Would you say ‘yes’ to God, and be so abandoned to Him, that you would do whatever He asked of you because you knew it was right? If you say ‘yes’ to God, then rejoice and be happy. He will bless you beyond anything else in your life, and your name will be written among the names in heaven.

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Reading 1 Isaiah 66:10-14c

10 Thus says the LORD: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! 11 Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, that you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts! 12 For thus says the LORD: Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; 13 as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. 14 When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass; the LORD’s power shall be known to his servants.

Reading II Galatians 6:14-18

14 Brothers and sisters: May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.



Gospel Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9

1 At 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. 2 He 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. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay 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. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’
Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
17 The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, 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. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.”



1. What do you think the seventy-two were thinking when Jesus told them to go out with absolutely nothing? Describe.

2. Have you thought of your life being a ‘vocation’ of service to God? Why? Why not? If so, what is your vocation in life? How do you experience Christ in the calling?

3. How can you better allow Christ to shape your vocation and calling in life?