The joy of belonging to God's Kingdom
Introducing the readings for 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C (I)
First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14c
Responsorial Psalm 66 (65) Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
Introducing the Sunday Readings
The First Reading from Isaiah 66:10-14c emerges from the post-exilic period, when the Israelites had returned from Babylonian captivity (around 538 BCE). Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the people faced the daunting task of rebuilding their city and their lives. In this context, Isaiah employs tender maternal imagery, depicting Jerusalem as a nursing mother and God as a comforting parent. This passage appears near the conclusion of the Book of Isaiah, offering a message of hope and restoration to a people who had experienced profound displacement and loss. The imagery of maternal comfort and abundance speaks powerfully to the theme of pilgrimage, suggesting that the journey, though difficult, leads to a place of nurture and divine care.
Psalm 66 (65), with its call to "Cry out with joy to God, all the earth," was likely composed as a thanksgiving hymn following a national deliverance. The psalm moves from communal praise to personal testimony, reflecting both collective and individual experiences of God's faithfulness. As a responsorial psalm, it serves to bridge the promise of comfort in Isaiah with the universal mission described in the Gospel. The psalm's themes of thanksgiving and testimony reinforce the pilgrim's journey as one marked by gratitude and witness.
The Second Reading from Galatians 6:14-18 represents Paul's concluding remarks to the Christian community in Galatia, written around 54-55 CE. This passage addresses a community struggling with questions of religious identity and authentic faith. Paul boldly declares that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters, but rather being a "new creation" in Christ. This conclusion to his letter challenges superficial religious markers in favor of genuine spiritual transformation. For pilgrims of hope, this reading emphasizes that the journey involves internal transformation rather than mere external conformity.
The Gospel reading from Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 describes Jesus commissioning seventy-two disciples for mission. The number seventy-two held symbolic significance, representing all the nations known to exist in the ancient world according to Jewish tradition. This passage appears in Luke's "travel narrative" section, where Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem. The instructions Jesus gives to these missionaries - to travel light, depend on hospitality, and proclaim peace - provide a practical and spiritual template for being pilgrims of hope. Their successful return and Jesus' response emphasize that true joy comes not from power but from belonging to God's kingdom.
These readings promote the value of trust in divine providence, as seen in Isaiah's imagery of God's maternal care and Jesus' instructions to travel without provisions. Secondly, they emphasise the importance of community and interdependence, reflected in the communal praise of Psalm 66 and the pairs of disciples sent out in Luke's Gospel. Thirdly, they stress the value of authentic transformation over external appearances, as Paul articulates in Galatians.
The readings also promote the Christian values of hospitality, peace-making, and missionary zeal. The Gospel's instructions about entering homes and towns highlight the reciprocal nature of Christian hospitality - both giving and receiving. The message of peace that the disciples are to proclaim emphasizes the Christian commitment to reconciliation and harmony. The missionary dimension of the readings reminds us that pilgrims of hope are called not just to personal journey but to share the good news with others.
Furthermore, these readings promote humility and detachment from worldly success. Paul's boasting only in the cross of Christ and Jesus' reminder that true joy comes from having one's name written in heaven rather than from successful missions, challenge the values of self-promotion and material achievement. For pilgrims of hope, these readings suggest that true fulfillment comes through alignment with God's purposes rather than personal accomplishment.
These readings combine promises of divine comfort with calls to mission and transformation. They promote Christian values: trust in God's care, authentic spiritual transformation, community building, peace-making, and humble service. These readings offer both encouragement and challenge, reminding us that our journey is supported by divine love and directed toward sharing that love with others.
The Gospel in Focus
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
The passage opens with Jesus appointing seventy-two disciples, a number rich in biblical symbolism. The number seventy-two (or seventy in some manuscripts) recalls Moses appointing seventy elders (Numbers 11:24-25) and traditionally represented the number of nations in the world (Genesis 10). This deliberate parallel suggests the universal scope of Christ's mission and the Church's calling to reach all peoples. The appointment of these disciples occurs within Luke's travel narrative, as Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, adding significance to the theme of being pilgrims of hope.
Verse 1's emphasis on sending disciples "two by two" reflects both practical wisdom and theological truth. This practice provided mutual support, fulfilled the Jewish law requiring two witnesses, and embodied the communal nature of Christian mission. The instruction to go "ahead of him to every town and place he intended to visit" establishes these disciples as preparers of the way, much like John the Baptist, highlighting the continuing role of the Church in preparing hearts for Christ's presence.
In verses 2-3, Jesus employs two powerful metaphors. The harvest metaphor ("The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few") speaks to both urgency and hope - urgency because harvest time is limited, hope because the abundance suggests God's prior work in preparing hearts. The image of being sent "like lambs among wolves" acknowledges the vulnerability of Christian witnesses while implying divine protection and the need for gentle, non-violent evangelization.
Verses 4-7 provide practical instructions that carry deeper spiritual significance. The command to "carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals" teaches radical dependence on divine providence and challenges our contemporary attachment to security and self-sufficiency. The prohibition against greeting anyone along the way emphasizes the urgency of the mission, while the instructions about accepting hospitality establish principles of Christian mission that respect local cultures while maintaining focus on the gospel message.
Verses 8-12 outline a missionary methodology that remains relevant. The disciples are to accept local hospitality, heal the sick, and proclaim the kingdom's proximity. This approach combines concrete acts of mercy with verbal proclamation, demonstrating that evangelization involves both word and deed. The instruction about shaking off dust from their feet when rejected provides a healthy perspective on missionary failure - responsibility for rejection lies with the hearers, not the messengers.
The passage's conclusion (verses 17-20) presents a crucial lesson about spiritual priorities. While the disciples rejoice in their power over demons, Jesus redirects their joy to their "names being written in heaven." This reorientation challenges tendencies to measure success by visible results rather than faithful discipleship.
For Bible Sharing:
Jesus sent the disciples with specific instructions about what not to bring and how to behave. How do these instructions challenge our approaches to sharing faith and serving others?
Personal Application Question: The disciples were sent 'two by two.' Who are your companions on your faith journey, and how do they help you maintain hope in challenging times?
Takeaway Question for Sunday Mass Preparation: As you prepare for Mass, reflect on this: Jesus told the disciples to rejoice not in their achievements but in their names being written in heaven. What are the sources of your joy in your faith journey, and how might this Gospel invite you to reorient your priorities?
This Gospel passage challenges us to trust in divine providence, work in community, combine words with actions in our witness, and find our deepest joy in belonging to God's kingdom. While the mission may be challenging, we go forth with Christ's authority and the assurance of God's care.
-Fr Viktor A. RCJ
Rogate ergo Dominum messis, ut mittat operarios in messem suam.
(Matthaeus 9:38)