Reflection for Sunday July 7, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:1-9

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two 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 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.’”

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Reflection:

A young man decided to become a follower of Jesus, but he did not leave behind his worldly lifestyle. He continued to live a sinful and luxurious life, and he did not sever his ties with friends who loved the world more than God. After a few months, he realized that he had not been able to lead anyone to follow the Lord.

How can we become effective bearers of the teachings of Jesus? We must learn to live simply and depend on Jesus in our daily lives. This does not mean that we should remain idle and wait for manna from heaven to be served to us on a silver platter. Rather, it means that we must continue to work hard while choosing to live simply. At the same time, we must allow the values and teachings of Jesus to guide and shape our lives.

Is it still possible to live simply in a world where greed, materialism, and the desire to accumulate possessions seem to dominate? Of course, it is. The choice is still in our hands. We can either allow the culture of greed, materialism, and accumulation to rule over us, or we can choose to follow the simple and humble way of life that Jesus showed us.

When Jesus sent the seventy-two disciples on their mission, He encouraged them to embrace simple living and place their complete trust in Him. Why? Because it was through this way of life that they could become effective bearers of the Good News. It was through their simplicity, humility, and trust in God that they would be able to inspire others to follow Jesus.

If we want to become effective and fruitful laborers for the Lord, we must learn to live simply. We must also learn to trust in the providence of God rather than relying solely on ourselves. This is the very lifestyle that Jesus modeled for us. He lived a simple life, and He did not act according to His own will but remained faithful and obedient to the will of His Father.

How are we living our lives today? Are we allowing worldly values to shape our choices, or are we following the simple, trusting, and faith-filled example of Jesus?— Marino J. Dasmarinas