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| “Saint Therese of Lisieux” artist and date are UNKNOWN |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12
Commentary on Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12
We see in this reading the respective roles played by Ezra and Nehemiah in reestablishing Israel Jerusalem
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Commentary on Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
Psalm 19 is a hymn of praise. In this passage we give praise to God’s gift of the Law which guides us in our daily lives. The hymn also extols the virtue of obedience and steadfastness to the Law and its precepts. The passage also reflects the idea that following God’s statutes leads to peace and prosperity. In placed behind the Old Testament reading, the passage sounds ironic against the initial response of the people to the Law of Moses in the Nehemiah reading above. The psalmist does, however, capture his (Nehemiah’s) intent in proclaiming a holy day and the celebration that ensued.
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Gospel: Luke 10:1-12
Commentary on Lk 10:1-12
It is only in the Gospel of St. Luke that we hear the story of Jesus sending the seventy (two). This event is supported by other non-biblical writings (see Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 265-c. 340) Church History, Vol. 1). The instructions given to those sent out are very similar to the instructions given to the Twelve (Matthew 10:5-16; Luke 9:1-6), as was the message they were sent to proclaim.
This selection emphasizes Jesus early struggle to accomplish what he came to do by himself. We sense the humanness as he says; "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;" We also find this event and statement in St. Matthew’s Gospel where instead of the 72 he names the 12 (Matthew 10:1-8). While in St. Matthew’s story Jesus sends them, first to the Hebrew people, St. Luke makes no such distinction.
This effort by Jesus was modeled on Moses’ leadership structure in which 70 elders were appointed (Numbers 11:24-25). It is also possible that the reference number 70 relates to the number of nations mentioned in Genesis 10. The disciples were sent two by two a custom that would be replicated later in the post-resurrection missionary activities of the Church (see Acts 8:14; 15:39-40).
In another historical similarity, the disciples were sent without possessions, presumably depending upon the traditionally required hospitality for their support. Similar instructions were given by the Prophet Elisha as he sent his servant in 2 Kings 4:29.
The Lord’s instructions concerning this hospitality “…laborer deserves payment” is also quoted in St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:18b) and has further support in 1 Corinthians 9:7, 14. Those who labor on behalf of the Gospel and cannot take time to support themselves deserve the support of the community. In a final twist, the Lord’s instruction to “…eat what is set before you” sets aside Mosaic dietary laws (also 1 Corinthians 10:27 and Acts 10:25). It is a clear indication that the scope of their mission is to call all peoples to the Gospel.
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Reflection:
Standing up for Gospel principles has never been easy. Those of us who believe that because this is a civilized world it is getting easier are in for a rude awakening the first time we challenge the social status quo. Try taking the high moral ground at work when the discussions get a bit “off color” and sexual innuendo starts to fly. You will find yourself like the bad comedian who lays an egg on stage and hears crickets chirping. In countries of the Middle East proclaiming the Gospel can get you killed. Our own troops who have been deployed to the Middle-East were not allowed to mention their faith outside the compounds that housed them.
The Lord tells the seventy two that he is sending them “like lambs among wolves”. That descriptor infers an attitude as well as a message. The message the Lord sent, and is sending, is one of love for God and love of one another. (It is interesting that Pope Francis used that same message as a prelude [re-formatting it as the “Golden Rule”] to his consistent life ethic directed at the joint houses of the US Congress recently.) That message is not welcomed by those who seek power over others; who are focused only on their own hedonistic pleasures. They find such talk threatening to their life styles and critical of their behaviors (at least we hope so).
They will not thank us for our message, conveyed in word and actions. On the contrary they will, at best, shun us or at worst seek to do us harm; remove the irritant. Our response to this treatment is to love them! Like little children (thank you St. Thèrése) we are called to reach out to them asking they why they cannot see the love God wants to share with them. As vulnerable and powerless apostles we offer the greatest prize imaginable. And when it is rejected, we offer it again.
Ah, the Lord did not give us an easy mission. He calls us to be a light to the world and a beacon of hope. We pray today for the strength to accept the small measure of pain he endured for us so that we might continue the work he sends us to do.
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