For the 14th Sunday of OT — C, a vision of Mother Jerusalem, an image of the Church of the last days, is given to us. She is the Mother of all nations, "catholic" in the care she provides for her children. This picture is complemented by the narration of the sending of the seventy-two — the "angels" whom Jesus sends before him to the places he intends to visit. Seventy-two was the number of the nations in the table of nations in Gen. 10 (LXX translation). Thus, "seventy-two" is a reference to the catholicity of the Christian missions.
Relevant Articles
Guide to the Reading of Luke 10:1-24
- The Seventy-Two. Apart from the Twelve, Luke also mentions the Seventy-Two whom the Lord sends out ahead of him in the places where he was going to visit. It has been suggested that in presenting the Church as the new Israel, Luke also mentions the 72 after the 72 members that make up the Sanhedrin. Given the missionary character of the Lucan 72, it is better to associate them with the 72 nations that make up the table of nations in Genesis 10. They are the "angels" anticipated in 9:52, "messengers" that make up the advance party of the Lord who comes to visit.
- Verses 2-11 is made up of guidelines for the missionary. The first guideline is on prayer, asking the Master of the harvest for more laborers (2), followed by an implied warning about the hostility that the missionary will encounter (3), missionary equipments (4) and missionary protocol (5-11).
- Woes to Towns who reject the missionaries (12.13-16). Verses 13-16 is not included in the lectionary reading, because the emphasis of the liturgy is on the work of evangelization, that is bringing the Lord’s peace and the proclamation of the kingdom. The theological justification of the woes is given in v. 16: Whoever rejects the missionaries, reject not only Jesus but also the one who sent Him. The missionary is an extension of the Lord: one’s attitude towards them defines their attitude towards the Lord.
- Verses 17-24 narrates the return of the disciples, the report about the mission and Jesus’ response (17-20), the prayer of Jesus (21-22) and Jesus’ assessment of the privileges of the disciples (23-24).
Review of the Readings
The liturgy relates the work of the seventy-two with the eschatological joy of those who see Jerusalem restored (Isaiah 66:10-14). Jerusalem who is mourned in the Lamentations as a barren widow is now seen in her splendor as a woman in full bloom, a mother suckling her chldren and enjoying the consolations of her Spouse. This vision of Jerusalem in the last days is, from a Christian viewpoint, that of the Church, mother of all nations, who suckles her children from the abundance of her breasts: the Word and the Sacraments. The Christian missions are the fertile grounds from which the children of the Church spring forth.
The second reading (Galatians 6:14-19), coming as it does at the end of the letter, summarizes the content of Paul’s letter. The death of Christ on the cross is the source of the Christian’s justification. The believer is no longer required to become a Jew first before enjoying the benefits of Christ’s redemption. He, Paul, is a valid apostle who bears the marks of Christ’s wounds (due to the persecution suffered for the sake of the gospel). This last can also be extended to the Christian missionary who is a lamb sent out to wolves.
Suggestions for the Lesson
The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives a lot of materials for a lesson on Christ, the Church and her mission, and the Christian’s participation in the mission of evangelization. Just run your cursor over the references to the CCC and the text of the Catechism will come up in a framed window.
| Luke 10 | Catechism |
| 1-2 | CCC 765 |
| 2 | CCC 2611 |
| 7 | CCC 2122 |
| 16 | CCC 87, 858 |
| 17-20 | CCC 787 |
| 21-23 | CCC 2603 |
| 21 | CCC 1083 |
1And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come.
2And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest.
3Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves.
4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way.
5Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house.
6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
7And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house.
8And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:
11Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.
12I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city.
13Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida. For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgement, than for you.
15And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto heaven, thou shalt be thrust down to hell.
16He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.
17And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils also are subject to us in thy name.
18And he said to them: I saw Satan like lightening falling from heaven.
19Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you.
20But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven.
21In that same hour, he rejoiced in the Holy Ghost, and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight.
22All things are delivered to me by my Father; and no one knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and to whom the Son will reveal him.
23And turning to his disciples, he said: Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see.
24For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.
1And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come.
2And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest.
3Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves.
4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way.
5Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house.
6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
7And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house.
8And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:
11Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.
12I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city.
1And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come.
2And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest.
3Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves.
4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way.
5Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house.
6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
7And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house.
8And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:
11Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you. Yet know this, that the kingdom of God is at hand.
12I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city.
13Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida. For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgement, than for you.
15And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto heaven, thou shalt be thrust down to hell.
16He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.
17And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils also are subject to us in thy name.
18And he said to them: I saw Satan like lightening falling from heaven.
19Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you.
20But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven.
21In that same hour, he rejoiced in the Holy Ghost, and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight.
22All things are delivered to me by my Father; and no one knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and to whom the Son will reveal him.
23And turning to his disciples, he said: Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see.
24For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.
10Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her.
11That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the abundance of her glory.
12For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you.
13As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall be angry with his enemies.
14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me; for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
CCC 765
¶765 The Lord Jesus endowed his community with a structure that will remain until the Kingdom is fully achieved. Before all else there is the choice of the Twelve with Peter as their head. Representing the twelve tribes of Israel, they are the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem. The Twelve and the other disciples share in Christ's mission and his power, but also in his lot. By all his actions, Christ prepares and builds his Church.
CCC 2611
¶2611 The prayer of faith consists not only in saying "Lord, Lord," but in disposing the heart to do the will of the Father. Jesus calls his disciples to bring into their prayer this concern for cooperating with the divine plan.
CCC 2122
¶2122 The minister should ask nothing for the administration of the sacraments beyond the offerings defined by the competent authority, always being careful that the needy are not deprived of the help of the sacraments because of their poverty." The competent authority determines these "offerings" in accordance with the principle that the Christian people ought to contribute to the support of the Church's ministers. "The laborer deserves his food."
CCC 87,858
¶87 Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me", the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.
¶858 Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired; . . . . And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach." From then on, they would also be his "emissaries" (Greek apostoloi). In them, Christ continues his own mission: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." The apostles' ministry is the continuation of his mission; Jesus said to the Twelve: "he who receives you receives me."
CCC 787
¶787 From the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings. Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between him and those who would follow him: "Abide in me, and I in you. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches." And he proclaimed a mysterious and real communion between his own body and ours: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."
CCC 2603
¶2603 The evangelists have preserved two more explicit prayers offered by Christ during his public ministry. Each begins with thanksgiving. In the first, Jesus confesses the Father, acknowledges, and blesses him because he has hidden the mysteries of the Kingdom from those who think themselves learned and has revealed them to infants, the poor of the Beatitudes. His exclamation, "Yes, Father!" expresses the depth of his heart, his adherence to the Father's "good pleasure," echoing his mother's Fiat at the time of his conception and prefiguring what he will say to the Father in his agony. The whole prayer of Jesus is contained in this loving adherence of his human heart to the mystery of the will of the Father.
CCC 1083
¶1083 The dual dimension of the Christian liturgy as a response of faith and love to the spiritual blessings the Father bestows on us is thus evident. On the one hand, the Church, united with her Lord and "in the Holy Spirit," blesses the Father "for his inexpressible gift in her adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. On the other hand, until the consummation of God's plan, the Church never ceases to present to the Father the offering of his own gifts and to beg him to send the Holy Spirit upon that offering, upon herself, upon the faithful, and upon the whole world, so that through communion in the death and resurrection of Christ the Priest, and by the power of the Spirit, these divine blessings will bring forth the fruits of life "to the praise of his glorious grace."
Tags: luke, missions, seventy-two
Posted by angfrayle
Ordinary Time, Synoptic Gospels, The Sunday Lectionary
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