Weekly Reflection

Presence

"Be still and know that I am God."
Lord, Your words lead us to the
calmness and greatness of Your Presence.

Freedom

I need to close out the noise, to rise above the noise;
The noise that interrupts, that separates,
The noise that isolates.
I need to listen to God again.

Consciousness

In the presence of my loving Creator, I look honestly at my feelings over the last few days: the highs, the lows and the level ground. Can I see where the Lord has been present?

The Word of God     Luke 10:1-9

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Some thoughts on today's scripture

• This Monday we celebrate the feast of Luke the author of the Gospel of mercy and compassion. Early in his mission Jesus called people to be his companions and to be sent out in his name to continue his saving mission. Like them we are called and sent into the world of our time. We pray that we may have compassionate and missionary hearts to share the gifts that we have been given with generosity and love.
• There is a tendency in life for many to take what they might need on a journey to cover many eventualities that could arise. Jesus sent out his disciples with the bare essentials from that point of view. The main factor was the Good News of the Kingdom that they brought and the gift of healing. Lord, give us the freedom to go out trusting you to provide what is needed for your ongoing mission.

• In this passage, Jesus is talking about a new way of living.  When the Pharisees went out on a mission they went prepared.  They thought the food they’d be offered might be impure so they took money with them and took care of their own food.  Jesus’ disciples were to be with people just as they were; to accept them and to share with them.  They were to trust in the hospitality of others.

Conversation

God’s Word is always fruitful.  How is it touching me now as I reflect on what I have just prayed?
Do I feel comforted?  Do I feel challenged?

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sacraments for 2021

October

Missionary disciples

We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavor of the Gospel.