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 told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” – Luke 10:1-2

       My good friend, Randy, and I have this tag line: “Two by two.” We usually say it to one another on greeting cards, during team buildings, and similar moments. It means that we always want to serve God together because of the way we complement each other. We’ve been working and serving together for several years now, producing evangelistic materials and mounting inspirational and learning events. He’s able to laugh in situations when I’m stressed. I’m able to bring objectivity when he’s emotional. I’m the hyper-creative dreamer who doesn’t think about the budget, while he puts my feet on the ground with his advanced technical and financial knowledge. I honestly think we make a pretty good team.

       I heard a great quote once that says, “No one ever did anything truly great by himself.”

       I’m thankful for the people that God sends my way to help me fulfill my calling, and vice-versa.

        If we are to do anything significant in this world, we can’t expect to do it alone. George Tolentino Gabriel (george.g@svrtv.com)

Reflection: Who can you partner with so you can help each other’s dreams come true?

After bringing the Jews out of exile, God promises to bless and care for them. This promise is as true today as it was 2,500 years ago. We must  believe that God is doing something in our midst – He is working to bring about His Kingdom. As Christians, we need to own the promises God makes in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 66:10-14

10 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! 11 Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, that you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts! 12 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. 13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. 14 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.

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

R: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, 2 sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. 3 Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (R) 4 “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” 5 Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (R) 6 He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. 7 He rules by his might forever. (R) 16 Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. 20 Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (R)

We do not know what Paul means when he tells us that he bears the marks of Jesus on his body. Does he have the stigmata? We can surmise that Paul shares in the sufferings of Christ, just as we do as disciples of Jesus. It is a mystery why some suffer more than others in this life. Our challenge is to follow God’s call wherever it leads us.

Galatians 6:14-18

14 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. 15 For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Jesus knows He needs the help of others in the work of the Gospel. We are all called to be laborers in God’s Kingdom. Some have simple roles while others have complex and demanding ones. Once we have discovered God’s will for us, we must live it as faithfully as possible.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

1 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. 2 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. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 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. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ 10 Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 11 ‘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. 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.” 17 The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 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. 20  Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

think: Once we have discovered God’s will for us, we must live it as faithfully as possible.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 11-12 

Things to be grateful for from the past week

Things to ask God for in the coming week

Most important word God told me this week

SHAKE THE DUST

FROM YOUR FEET AND MOVE ON

Jesus was always very realistic when He spoke to His disciples. Sending them out on a mission, He made them aware that they would not always be successful. He knew that failure easily causes disappointment and discouragement. So He tells them, “When this happens, shake the dust of that place from your feet and move on!”

       All of us have experienced discouragement. There were times when I did not like to teach anymore because, despite my efforts, many students just didn’t get it.

       A good example for the right response to failure and rejection is the late Vietnamese Cardinal Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. He spent 13 years in prison, nine of them in solitary confinement in a tiny vermin-infested cell with no windows. While imprisoned in conditions of poverty and hardship, he never lost his nerve nor hated his captors. As he was being forcibly “re-educated,” he used another method to teach his enemies. His guards became his pupils. The sincerity of his relationships changed relations within the prison. His jailers secretly gave him pieces of wood with which he made a cross, and a piece of wire, which became a chain. He wore it around his neck for the rest of his life, even when he became a cardinal.

       Francois-Xavier’s love for the people entrusted to his care seemed completely frustrated. He did not understand why God allowed him to become helpless when His people were in such need. For months, all he could do was weep and pray. On the verge of breaking down, God comforted him with an insight that must have come from the Holy Spirit. God allowed him to see that what mattered were not the works that he was able or unable to achieve, but the One whom he was working for: God. With that, peace invaded his soul. He began to see failure and success in an entirely new light — in God’s light. He was able to move on. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you allow yourself to be paralyzed by disappointments and lose trust in God’s plans for you?

Lord, so often, things don’t go the way I want them to go. Remind me in those moments that I don’t work for myself but for You whose plans are wiser than mine. Amen.