I am sending you like sheep among wolves, yet their message is always one of Peace.

 
Reading: He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2.
 
Good morning, happy Tuesday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
With today’s Gospel (Luke 10:1-9) we celebrate the feast day of St. Luke, one of the four evangelists. In today’s reading, Jesus sends 72 of his disciples out into the towns and villages that he intended to visit. These 72 disciples were to inform the people that he was coming. They were to prepare the way for him.
 
Jesus then gives the disciples instructions for this journey. He tells his disciples to pack lightly for the journey. They should not take any money, luggage, or sandals. Jesus tells them they are to trust that God will provide for them.
 
I wonder how the disciples reacted to Jesus’ statement! Ask yourself: if you were sent on a journey and you were told to take nothing with you except the clothes on your back, how would you react? Personally, I would be tempted to pack a “little” bag just in case I needed something!
 
I might feel surprised that Jesus is sending so many before him, so soon after he had called them. They had not been to any formation course, they had no qualification – except being with Jesus and wanting to follow him. Very often I too doubt whether I am good enough or worthy to bring Jesus to others, especially in a world that seems so hostile. Yet Jesus trusts me, he only wants me to relish his friendship and trust in his word. The need for peace and healing is there, and there is a real urgency. I ask not to be deaf to his call but to answer with generosity, to the best of my ability.
 
There is a tendency in life for many to take what they might need on a journey to cover many eventualities that could arise. Jesus sent out his disciples with the bare essentials from that point of view. The main factor was the Good news of the kingdom that they brought and the gift of healing. Lord give us the freedom to go out trusting you to provide what is needed for your ongoing mission.
 
God’s message is above all else a message of peace. Doing God’s work can make me unpopular and cause me to be criticized but I am called to trust that God will take care of me.
 
Today Jesus is sending us forth to preach the “Good News.” He gives us the same instructions that he gave the Apostles: “take nothing with you.” All we are to take with us is the “Good News” of Jesus. What is the good news of Jesus that you want to share today?
 
Blessings,
 
Luis+