A reading from the gospel according to Luke 10:1-12

1 Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
2 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.
3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.
5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
7 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.
8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you,
9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say,
11 ‘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.
12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

Reflection: sent

Good News: The harvest is abundant.

The gospel reading above tells us about the sending of the 72 disciples to every town to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus is sending His disciples today, meaning you and me, to do the same. The harvest is abundant then as it is now. More than ever, Jesus needs more laborers.

The harvest is abundant. Millions of people in the world today still do not know God or deny His existence. Others know God and yet continue to live in darkness. Some people use God or the name of God for their personal or group agenda. It is the task of the believers to reach out to these people.

Every believer is being sent but it does not mean we have to go to another country. Our roommate or co-workers may need some evangelizing. Although it is important to speak the Word of God to them, our action and behavior can speak louder than our mouth. Hence it is necessary that others see in us the Kingdom of God. It means every believer must show in practice what they believe.

The Kingdom of God is not something abstract. It is not just an intellectual topic for debate. It is a reality that is not completely fulfilled yet. But it will. This is the central theme of all the teachings of Jesus and the complete fulfillment of it in the very near future is the goal of our mission, when Jesus Himself will be made subject to God who put everything under Him, so that He may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28). This is the ultimate reason why we are being sent into the world – to make the Kingdom of God known to all and to make it alive in our life.

Further Reflection: See Matthew 10:7-15