Luke 10:1-12,17-20 NRSVue
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’, 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’, 12I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
17The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
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Reflection on Luke 10:1-12,17-20
Inspiration from 2025-07-06 Daily Prayer
By instructing his disciples not to carry spare tunics or money or sandals, he is telling them to focus not on themselves but rather on their mission to preach and to heal. God will provide all that they need through the people to whom they bring the message of the kingdom of God, ‘for the labourer deserves to be paid’.
Pope Francis said we are all called to be missionaries. In whatever walk of life we choose, we can witness our faith in how we live, but there is also a need for those who are called to dedicate their lives to preaching the Good News of the kingdom of God. Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Further reflection
Jesus is preparing his disciples for mission. He leaves them in no doubt about the challenges, obstacles and dangers which will await them. They will succeed, however, because the power of God is working with them. Accordingly, ‘the seventy return with joy’. Do I experience that joy when I do what the Lord wants?
The message entrusted to the disciples by Jesus is peace and the nearness of the kingdom of God’. This same message of peace and justice, forgiveness and healing, and the Good News of God’s kingdom, has been entrusted to the Church down the centuries. Now it is my turn to witness to it.