Luke 10:1-9 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.’^,

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Reflection on Luke 10:1-9

Inspiration from 2025-10-18 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 the sick. God will provide all that they need through the people they encounter. 

Our world is in great need of spiritual guides and shepherds. Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Further reflection

Lord, you were sending followers on a mission, so your words here carry weight over the centuries. You sent them in pairs, not as individuals. You told them to travel light and to be vulnerable, to bring peace, but not to dally with small talk. On each of these counts I can look at my own life.