Reflection for July 6 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Gospel: Luke 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."

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Reflection:

Is it hard to follow the way of Jesus? Yes, it’s hard. But will we stop following Him because it’s hard, or will we keep following Him even when the path is difficult? 

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two in pairs to prepare the way for Him, they knew it would not be a walk in the park. They knew there would be challenges and hardships along the way. 

Yet, knowing all these difficulties they would face, they still chose to go. Why? Why move forward when dangers and uncertainties awaited them? They moved forward because they trusted that the abiding presence of Jesus would be with them every step of the way. 

This is what often weakens our resolve as we follow Jesus: our fear of the difficulties and uncertainties ahead. But why should we fear when the abiding presence of Jesus is always by our side? 

If we let fear paralyze us, who will work in the vineyard of the Lord? Who will shepherd, care for, and minister to the abundant harvest that is waiting? 

Why fear when Jesus Himself has promised: "I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) 

Let us continue to follow Jesus, even when the road is hard, trusting that He walks with us, strengthening us, and guiding us as we serve in His vineyard.– Marino J. Dasmarinas