John Desing csc –
Readings: 2 Tim 4: 10-17; Lk 10: 1-9
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist. The Readings of the day invite us to do God’s mission and bear much fruit. St. Paul in the First Reading tells us about the struggles and painful experiences on his missionary journey. He was deserted by all, but the Lord stood by him and strengthened him to spread the message to all the Gentiles. In the Gospel Reading, we heard about Jesus commissioning the seventy-two disciples two by two to proclaim the Good News.
For Jesus, the purpose was sure, for he said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” We are to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Jesus instructs the disciples not to carry anything, but to enter a house and say, “Peace be to this house”. We are called to proclaim God’s message of peace. Hospitality is a sign of peace.
Those who reject the workers of Christ reject the peace that Christ brings to the family. It is the responsibility of the laborers to proclaim and show the true ways of God. In this 21st century, how do we spread the message of God? Fr. Moreau, the founder of Holy Cross said, “How sweet it is to abandon ourselves to the love of our Father, who is in heaven, and to seek his holy will”. Let us pray that we may learn to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and spread God’s love.