14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 10:1-12, 17-20) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
FIRST READING - 66:10-14c
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
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!
Oh, that you may suck fully
of the milk of her comfort,
that you may nurse with delight
at her abundant breasts!
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;
as a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.
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.
SECOND READING from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians - 6:14-18
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.
For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,
but only a new creation.
Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule
and to the Israel of God.
From now on, let no one make troubles for me;
for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
brothers and sisters. Amen.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 10:1-12, 17-20
From the Gospel according to Luke
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.
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.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
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.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'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.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
"Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name."
Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
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. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 10:1-12. 17-20)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God speaks of the command that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples in the past and continues to give to this day: to go out and preach the Good News of God's salvation to the whole world.
In the mission of proclaiming the Good News, Jesus chose and called seventy-two more disciples. He not only called those seventy-two but also continues to invite all who have hearts that love God to be sent to all of humanity.
When we go out to our missionary, He instructed His disciples: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel, heal every disease, and drive out Satan from souls. Follow the Lord without seeking personal gain or glory, but bring the image of Jesus Christ on the cross to all humanity—to the lost sheep who need God's mercy."
When preaching the Gospel, Jesus invited His disciples to trust completely in God to not worry, be anxious, or be afraid. Why did He instruct His disciples so carefully? Because He saw that they were still weak and fearful. Moreover, He knew that when He sent them out to preach the Gospel and bring God's salvation to save souls, Satan would also seek ways to oppose them. There would be fierce wolves, like predators hunting prey, who would not allow the disciples to win souls for God without resistance.
Therefore, Jesus said, "Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves." Many fierce enemies would be lurking, seeking to tear His disciples apart. So He reassured them not to worry, for God would always be with them guiding and protecting them.
Jesus also instructed His disciples that when they go out to preach the Gospel, they must carry within themselves the image of the crucified Christ—just as Saint Paul did, who bore nothing in his body but the cross of Jesus Christ—in order to bring God's salvation to all of humanity.
Today, too, there are many suffering souls in need of God's mercy and the help of His disciples. Therefore, God desires that all His disciples—both past and present—joyfully go out to preach the Gospel, to bring His salvation to all mankind, and to call people to repentance, urging them to abandon their sinful ways and return to God.
When you go, bring God's peace to all people. Wherever you are welcomed, stay there, and ask God to bless you—to bring His peace to that house, to that soul, and to that land. If a place does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet and go on to other places where God's mercy is needed.
Be patient and persistent in staying with those who are lost, to bring God's love and mercy to the sheep who do not yet know Him. Jesus earnestly invited His disciples and all who are chosen by God to go out joyfully, to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons.
And Jesus also gave His disciples an urgent instruction: be vigilant at all times and in all places. For "behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat." Satan waits for moments when the disciples are not vigilant, so he can attack and take back souls from their hands.
Therefore, God calls and instructs His disciples to remain watchful at all times and in all places, and to have wisdom in order to protect and reclaim souls from Satan’s grasp for God. This is the Word of God, calling His disciples as they go out to preach the Gospel and save souls for Him.
The last and most important instruction is this: always rely on God, your merciful Father. Stay closely united with Him, asking for His power to come upon you, to receive life from Him, and to remain connected with Him at all times and in all places like a branch that remains connected to the vine.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Comments