10/5/2023 (Thursday) Today’s gospel reading: 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.”

10/5/2023 (Thursday) Today’s gospel reflection / Homily / Sermon: Luke 10:1-12

In the gospel reading above, Jesus sends His disciples on a mission to spread the message that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He is sending them as lambs among wolves and for them to go on foot with no money bags or sacks. They are to bring peace to every household that welcomes them.

To work in the vineyard of the Lord is not easy. There are wolves lurking within and outside the vineyard. That is why Jesus warns His disciples to be wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16). At the same time, He urges them to be harmless as doves. This means we as disciples do not allow these wolves to frighten us. Instead, we engage them not in a violent way but in a peaceful manner. Who knows we might turn them into sheep.

Working in the vineyard of the Lord must be done with utmost simplicity. The disciple must never think that there is gold or silver in the vineyard. Instead, he or she must give full trust in divine provision. After, the owner of the vineyard is the creator of gold and silver and any treasure for that matter. Moreover, the image of an abundant harvest is enough source of inspiration. So let us serve with the desire to give glory to Him who is sending us.

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