1-Oct-15

Gospel LK 10:1-12
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
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.”
Reflection:
Jesus instructed the seventy-two disciples, "Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals and greet
no one along the way."
Jesus makes it perfectly clear that as his disciple, I should not seek after luxury but instead live a simple and austere life.
Two thousand years later, Pope Francis is again conveying the same message to all who consider them self to be a disciple of Christ.
As to "greet no one along the way," Jesus is telling me not to become distracted from spreading the word of God.
"Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment."
I think of the many times while delivering furniture or food and someone has offered me a drink or asked me to sit and eat with them.
It is important that I accept the generosity of those whom I have the privilege of serving for Christ.
As they, in humility and gratitude, accept my service, so must I always accept their hospitality.
"Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you..."
I am reminded of a friend of mine who when invited to dinner would reply, "Thanks, I'll be there, unless I get a better offer."
As a disciple of Christ, I cannot be looking for the better meal, the better accommodations or the better job. I instead should focus on finding the best opportunity to make Jesus Christ known to others.

"The laborer is worthy of his hire, but the servant of a crucified Master cannot be a seeker of luxury." William Barclay