Reading of The Day
First reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah
Is 66:10-14c
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
Gal 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
From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
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.”
July 3, 2022
Sunday of Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Luke 10:1-12:17-20)
God’s Word For Us
Dear People of God,
The Word of God today speaks of the command Jesus Christ gave to his disciples in the past and continues to this day, that is: Go and preach the Good News of God’s salvation to the whole world.
In the mission of evangelization, Jesus continued to choose to call 72 more disciples, not only did he call 72 disciples, but he also invited all those who love God to be sent to the whole world of mankind. When he went on a mission, he instructed his disciples: go into all the world preaching the Good News, healing all diseases, driving Satan out of souls. Following God without seeking self-interest, self-glorification, but brings the very image of Jesus Christ on the cross to all mankind, to the lost sheep in need of God’s mercy.
When he went to preach the Gospel, he invited his disciples to entrust themselves completely to God, without worries, concerns, or fears. Why did He instruct the disciples so carefully? Because He saw that the disciples were still weak and afraid. Moreover, he knew that when he sent his disciples out to preach the Gospel, to bring God’s salvation to save souls to God, at the same time Satan would find a way to oppose the disciples. Satan like as the ferocious wolves of prey, it will not let the disciples take the souls back to God. Therefore, Jesus said, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”. There will be many ferocious wolves lurking to find ways to bite His disciples, so He advised the disciples not to worry, because God will always accompany and be with the disciples. And Jesus exhorts his disciples when they go out to preach the Gospel to carry in their bodies the cross of Jesus Christ crucified, just as in the image of Saint Paul who did not take in his body anything but the cross of Jesus Christ, to bring God’s salvation to all humanity.
Today too, there are many souls who are suffering, in need of God’s mercy, in need of the help of the disciples. Therefore, God wants all His disciples, then and today, to go forth joyfully proclaiming the Good News of God, bringing down His salvation to all human being, calling people to repent and turn away from their sins and return to God. As on the way, bring the peace of God to all mankind. Wherever you are, stay, and may God bless and send His peace down to the house, to the heart, and to the ground; and where it does not accept you, shake off the dust of your feet, and go on to other places where God’s mercy is in need. Be patient and persistently stay with them to bring God’s love and mercy to the lost sheep, the sheep who don’t know God yet. God earnestly invites his disciples, as well as all those chosen by God, to go forth with joy to preach the Gospel, to heal all diseases and to cast out demons.
In addition, Jesus also gave His disciples a crucial advice: to be vigilant in all places and at all times. For: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat and it is quick as a flash of light.” Satan will wait for the opportunity when the disciples are not awake so that he can destroy and snatch souls from the disciples’ hands. Therefore, God invites and instructs the disciples: to be vigilant in all places at all times, and to have wisdom to preserve and win souls from Satan’s hand to God. It is God’s word to call His disciples when they go out to preach the Good News of God to save souls for Him. The last and most important thing is: always rely on God as our merciful Father, always closely unite with Him to ask for strength from God to come down on us, to receive the sap of life from God, remain entwined with Him in all places and times, just as a branch is entwined with its vine.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
