Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel this morning, we hear Jesus commission seventy-two of his disciples to prepare his way… as they traveled through Gentile lands, unfamiliar with the Messiah.

The setting then is not very different than the setting now. There are also many people today who are unfamiliar with Christ. In our world, it is not hard to observe offense and even flat-out hatred. There is still more work to be done. As Jesus put it in our Gospel, “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few”.

So today, Jesus is commissioning US to prepare this way just as he commissioned the seventy-two.

Now you may be thinking. I’m no preacher. It’s tough enough in my own faith walk, how could I possibly help someone else in their’s?

There are two sayings that I would to share.

The first is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. It is

“Preach the gospel always. Use words if necessary.”

The second saying is similar…

“Be the change that you want you to see in the world.”.

Preaching the good news of Jesus isn’t necessarily about preaching or speaking words at all. It is about being Christ like. This could be as easy as sharing a smile. Or being the peacemaker even when you have an opportunity to be offended or prove that you are right.

This won’t always be responded to in kind. Jesus describes it as like being a lamb sent among wolves. You may run into a less than loving response. That person probably isn’t acting that way because of you. They are acting that way because of themself. Because of their history and experiences. I would guess that they have had plenty of not-so-nice expressions come their own way… and maybe not enough loving ones. It’s possible they have put up walls to protect themselves from being vulnerable… from being hurt again.

The fact that your kindness is not received with gratitude is not a reason to stop spreading the Gospel with your actions and behavior… it is in-fact, the reason to continue to spread the good news of God’s love for all.

Jesus understands that this is not easy. It is the reason that Jesus sent out the seventy-two out in pairs. So that the pair can draw strength from each other and not be alone in a hurting world. To be a light to each other amdist any darkness they may encounter. This was the reality in Jesus’ time and is still the reality today.

Despite on how it may be received, Jesus tells us to wish peaceupon others. If they aren’t ready to receive it, the peace will return to us, he says meaning… don’t worry what happens with the peace just continue to offer it. It is not our job to make others receive it but only to let others know that it is there for the taking.

Should we encounter an ENTIRE town that is resistant… Jesus says that we should shake the dust of that town off our feet. He is telling us that should we run into a place that is full of negativity, to not bring any of that negativity back with us as a souvenir. Spread kindness in the world. Be the change that you want to see in the world. Don’t let the darkness that you see in world be the change in you.

Christ mentions that towns that reject the Kingdom of God are worse off than Sodom, which was a city obliterated for its sin. This isn’t prophecy of future punishment. Those who are not comforted by the love and mercy of God are hurting and suffering already. Bitter and guarded already. This is not about putting a spotlight on that or kicking people while they are down. This is saying that at least in Sodom, their hurt ended. Here, the hurt continues. Christ tells us that even if our message falls on deaf ears, let them still know that the kingdom of God is still available to them. That God’s love is still available to them.

The fact that your kindness is not received with gratitude is not a reason to stop spreading the gospel… it is the reason to continue the harvest.

The seventy-two on this mission were able to proclaim by power given to them by Christ. God has bestowed in you this very same power. By your baptism, you are anointed as priest, prophet, and king.

1. By your common priesthood, you are able to bestow the Peace of God unto others. And you can intercede to God on behalf of others.

2. As prophet, you can spread the Good News with others.

3. As an heir to kingdom, you can invite others into the kingdom as well.

You have been given power to change lives, to overcome darkness, and to build up the kingdom of God. And when you do, and you will do it… do it humbly. Give God all the honor and glory in that accomplishment.

Simply rejoice in that you were able to preach the Gospel by being the change that you wanted to see in the world.

Rejoice that by connecting someone with Jesus, they are now on a path that can replace their hurt with the peace that Christ offers.

And rejoice that like the Seventy-Two… your name also… will be written in heaven.