10/4/2025 (Saturday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 10:17-24
17 The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
19 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.
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
24 For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
10/4/2025 (Saturday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 10:17-24
There is a certain kind of joy that comes when we see the fruit of our efforts. Imagine a group of young volunteers who set out to organize a medical mission in a remote village. At first, they were nervous, unsure if the supplies would be enough, if the people would show up, or if their skills were adequate. But when they returned at the end of the week, they were filled with excitement. They saw sick children smiling after receiving care, elderly people walking with renewed strength, and families expressing deep gratitude. Their joy was not simply about what they accomplished, but about experiencing something bigger than themselves at work through them.
This is the kind of joy Jesus wanted His disciples to experience when they returned from their mission. They had seen results they never thought possible. People were healed, lives were touched, and even forces of darkness seemed powerless against them. Yet, in that moment of triumph, Jesus reminded them of a deeper truth: the greatest joy is not in temporary victories, but in the assurance of belonging to God.
We often measure success by visible outcomes. A teacher feels proud when her students pass their exams. A business owner feels fulfilled when profits rise. A parent feels accomplished when their child receives an award. These are good and valid joys. But life also teaches us that not every effort brings immediate results. Sometimes, a teacher pours her heart into her students but they still fail. A business owner works tirelessly yet suffers losses. A parent sacrifices everything but still faces disappointment. If our joy is rooted only in external results, it will easily be shaken.
True and lasting joy comes from a deeper source: knowing that our names, our very lives, are secure in God. This is why even when things do not go as planned, we can stand firm. Think of a nurse who continues to serve during a crisis, even if patients still pass away despite her best efforts. Or a missionary who preaches in a place where conversions are few, yet continues faithfully. Or a single parent who struggles every day but finds peace in God’s care. Their strength comes from the assurance that God sees them, values them, and has prepared a place for them that cannot be taken away.
There is another powerful reminder in this passage: not everyone sees or understands the blessings right before them. Jesus praised His Father for revealing the truth not to the proud or the powerful, but to the humble and childlike. In our world today, knowledge and influence are often tied to degrees, positions, or social status. Yet some of the most profound faith can be found in people who have none of these.
There is a story of a young boy from a poor family who carried his Bible to school every day. His classmates teased him, saying, “What can that book do for you? You can’t even afford proper shoes.” But the boy replied with confidence, “This book tells me that I am loved by God, and that is enough.” Years later, while some of his classmates struggled to find meaning in their achievements, he became a community leader who inspired hope, because he had held on to the simple but life-changing truth revealed to him as a child.
This is the beauty of faith. It is not about having all the answers, but about being open, humble, and willing to receive. The greatest treasures of life are not reserved for the strongest, richest, or most intelligent. They are for those who are willing to trust, to listen, and to follow with a childlike heart.
As we reflect, we are invited to rejoice not just in what we achieve, but in who we belong to. Success, recognition, and accomplishments are fleeting. But the joy of being known and loved by God, of having a place with Him, is eternal. This is the kind of joy that cannot be taken away, and it is the joy that will sustain us through every season of life.
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