Peace to this house!

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Collect

O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading
Is 66:10-14c

Behold, I will spread prosperity over her like a river.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,
   all you who love her;
exult, exult with her,
   all you who were mourning over her!
Oh, that you may suck fully
   of the milk of her comfort,
that you may nurse with delight
   at her abundant breasts!
   For thus says the LORD:
Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,
   and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,
   and fondled in her lap;
as a mother comforts her child,
   so will I comfort you;
   in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.

When you see this, your heart shall rejoice
   and your bodies flourish like the grass;
the LORD’s power shall be known to his servants.


The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

R. :

℟. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
   sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
   Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”

℟. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
   sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
   his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

℟. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

He has changed the sea into dry land;
   through the river they passed on foot;
   therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.

℟. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
   what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
   my prayer or his kindness!

℟. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Second Reading
Gal 6:14-18

I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians

Brothers and sisters:
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
   through which the world has been crucified to me,
   and I to the world.
For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,
   but only a new creation.
Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule
   and to the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make troubles for me;
   for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
   brothers and sisters. Amen.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Col 3:15a, 16a

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Let the peace of Christ contol your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Lk 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9

Your peace will rest on that person.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
   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.”

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
   “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
   and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
   but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

or: [Short Form]

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
   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.’”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

Jesus’ words in the Gospels give life. When we read the Gospels, we actually participate in them. We allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into the presence of Jesus so that we may receive life from Him.

In this discourse, in which He sends out 72 disciples to prepare the way for Him, He demonstrates the attitude we should have when we go out on mission as His disciples (regardless of what that mission may be), as well as the message we are to proclaim and the fruit we should bear. Our attitude should be one of humility, following Jesus’ own example. This is demonstrated through detachment from the goods of this world, with complete trust in the Father’s providence. 

The message is that the Kingdom of God has come, and this is demonstrated by the healing of those with physical illnesses. This means that the Lord’s disciples must expect that their mission will be accomplished through supernatural means. The Spirit distributes supernatural gifts to Jesus’ disciples as they proclaim the Kingdom of God. The fruit of their ministry is witnessed by the disciples themselves, but what surprises them is the fact that at the name of Jesus even the evil spirits obey them.

Lastly, Jesus declares that the disciples’ joy and true accomplishment is that their names are written in heaven.

Do we look upon ourselves as disciples of Jesus to whom He has entrusted the building of His Kingdom? If so, are we relying on our knowledge and talents alone, or are we depending on the supernatural gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit?

Prayer

Father, give us the grace to always be authentic, loyal, and totally dedicated disciples of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for choosing us as ambassadors of Your love, which frees and heals. Fill us with faith in Your Holy Spirit, so that we may accomplish the mission that is entrusted to us by our Saviour, Jesus. We ask you this, Father, in the name of Jesus, Your Son. Thank You, Father. Amen.

 

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