The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand For You

OCTOBER 18, 2022, TUESDAY

FEAST OF SAINT LUKE, EVANGELIST (Red)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 661

Reading I

2 Tm 4:10-17b

Beloved:

Demas, enamored of the present world,

deserted me and went to Thessalonica,

Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Luke is the only one with me.

Get Mark and bring him with you,

for he is helpful to me in the ministry.

I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,

the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm;

the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

You too be on guard against him,

for he has strongly resisted our preaching.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,

but everyone deserted me.

May it not be held against them!

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Responsorial Psalm

145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R.    (12)  Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

    and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

    and speak of your might.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Making known to men your might

    and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

The LORD is just in all his ways

    and holy in all his works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

    to all who call upon him in truth.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Alleluia

See Jn 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I chose you from the world,

to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit.

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.

Go on your way;

behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter,

first say, ‘Peace to this household.’

If a peaceful person lives there,

your peace will rest on him;

but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,

for the laborer deserves payment.

Do not move about from one house to another.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus appoints each of his followers to go out to heal and to preach the kingdom of God. He needs help and he doesn’t wait for us to sort out issues of personal frailty. He has selected us, and he says to us ‘Go!’! People will be surprised and we will experience a variety of receptions as we try to share his love and his values.

PRAYER:

Lord, you were sending followers on a mission, so your words here carry weight over the centuries. You sent them in pairs, not as individuals. You told them to travel light and to be vulnerable, to bring peace, but not to dally with small talk. On each of these counts I can look at my own life.

Jesus Sends Out The Seventy Two

JULY 03, 2022, SUNDAY

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 102

Reading 1

Is 66:10-14c

Thus says the LORD:

 Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,

 all you who love her;

 exult, exult with her,

 all you who were mourning over her!

 Oh, that you may suck fully

 of the milk of her comfort,

 that you may nurse with delight

 at her abundant breasts!

 For thus says the LORD:

 Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,

 and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.

 As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,

 and fondled in her lap;

 as a mother comforts her child,

 so will I comfort you;

 in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.

 When you see this, your heart shall rejoice

 and your bodies flourish like the grass;

 the LORD's power shall be known to his servants.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,

 sing praise to the glory of his name;

 proclaim his glorious praise.

Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,

 sing praise to your name!"

Come and see the works of God,

 his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

He has changed the sea into dry land;

 through the river they passed on foot;

 therefore let us rejoice in him.

He rules by his might forever.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare

 what he has done for me.

Blessed be God who refused me not

 my prayer or his kindness!

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Reading 2

Gal 6:14-18

Brothers and sisters:

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

through which the world has been crucified to me,

and I to the world.

For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,

but only a new creation.

Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule

and to the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make troubles for me;

for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,

brothers and sisters. Amen.

Alleluia

Col 3:15a, 16a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;

let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 10:1-12, 17-20 

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit.

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.

Go on your way;

behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter, first say,

'Peace to this household.'

If a peaceful person lives there,

your peace will rest on him;

but if not, it will return to you.

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.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'

Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,

go out into the streets and say,

'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.

I tell you,

it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,

"Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name."

Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.

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. 

Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,

but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

or 

Lk 10:1-9

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit.

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.

Go on your way;

behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter, first say,

'Peace to this household.'

If a peaceful person lives there,

your peace will rest on him;

but if not, it will return to you.

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.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus is preparing his disciples for mission. He leaves them in no doubt about the challenges, obstacles and dangers which will await them. They will succeed, however, because the power of God is working with them. Accordingly, ‘the seventy return with joy’. Do I experience that joy when I do what the Lord wants?

PRAYER:

What an awesome responsibility and privilege the Lord has bestowed on me to carry, together with others, the message of God’s love and mercy to the world. I ask him therefore to give me the wisdom, courage and strength to carry on his ministry.

Jesus Sends Out The Seventy Two

OCTOBER 18, 2021, Monday
FEAST OF SAINT LUKE, EVANGELIST (Red)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 661

Reading I
2 Tm 4:10-17b

Beloved:
Demas, enamored of the present world,
deserted me and went to Thessalonica,
Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
Luke is the only one with me.
Get Mark and bring him with you,
for he is helpful to me in the ministry.
I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,
the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.
Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm;
the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
You too be on guard against him,
for he has strongly resisted our preaching.
At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Responsorial Psalm
145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R.    (12)  Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
    and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
    and speak of your might.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Making known to men your might
    and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

The LORD is just in all his ways
    and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
    to all who call upon him in truth.

R.    Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Alleluia
See Jn 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 10:1-9

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
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.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter,
first say, ‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

REFLECTION:

Those whom Jesus calls to follow him are then always sent on mission: the disciple is also an apostle. Jesus sends the 72 disciples to the villages and towns he intends to visit, to prepare the way before him. Their only resource is being sent by him, and not their material possessions. The mission and the powers are the same as Jesus’, curing the sick and preaching the same urgent message: The kingdom of God is very near to you.

He is very clear to them: I am sending you like sheep among wolves, yet their message is always one of Peace. I ask not to be deaf to the call of Jesus, trusting in his mission and bringing peace to wherever I am.

If I can place myself in this gospel I may find that I am one of those “seventy others.” I am a follower of Jesus. I listen and look as I enter the challenge of this gospel scene. And, I am sent out. I carry with me no resources, only a clear vision, my unique interior gifts and an open heart.

PRAYER:

Lord, sometimes I wonder if I have the ability to recognize you at all in the midst of all my clutter. Am I carrying too many purses, bags and sandals? Make me content with less, which is enough. I pray now to be happily aware that the kingdom of God is very near.