REFLECTIONS TODAY
People rejoice over happy occasions and over victories, be in battle, sports, or some contests. The 72 disciples rejoiced upon returning from their missions, telling Jesus that the demons were subject to them because of his name (Lk 10:17). Jesus would have rejoiced with them, since they were sharing His mission to destroy the dominion of Satan in the world (Lk 10:18-19). Rejoicing now in the Spirit, Jesus praises the Father for revealing the mysteries of His Kingdom not to the wise and the learned but to the childlike (Greek nēpioi) (v 21). The “childlike” are those who rely on the power of God rather than on their intelligence and capabilities. They may be empowered by the Lord, even over the evil spirits, but the true source of their joy is that their “names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:20), that is, they belong to the Kingdom of heaven, privileged to witness and be part of the preaching of the Good News of salvation.
Jesus’ disciples are challenged to share their Christian faith so that those who do not yet know Him may have the desire to “see” Jesus and to “hear” the Good News of salvation and rejoice to receive the gracious will of God. Pope Francis says that the joy of the Gospel is a joy ever new, a joy which is shared (Evangelii Gaudium, 1).
First Reading • Is 11:1-10
On that day, A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 72
“Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.”
Gospel • Luke 10:21-24
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.