REFLECTIONS TODAY
Already in Jesus’ time, there seemed to have been a shortage of people who were willing to undertake or help further the mission of Jesus. The seventy-two who were appointed in addition to the closed circle of the Twelve seem to have been in response to this need. And so Jesus even asks his disciples to pray that God send more laborers in the vineyard since “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” Yes, even if in some countries the “harvest” seems to be getting scarce, by and large, especially here in the Philippines, the harvest is still plenty: there is still so much work at re-evangelization. But if all of us, Christians, would only actively participate in the various missions or ministries of the Church, much more can be achieved.
GOSPEL • Lk 10:1-12
Jesus appointed seventy-two other 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 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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.