Scripture readings for Sunday's Mass are here.
Gospel from Luke 10: 1-9
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.’”
Gospel from Luke 10: 1-9
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.’”
Thinking of he methods of getting missionaries around, Pope Francis has recently received two Harley Davidson motorbikes as part of the company's 110th anniversary celebrations.
One Divine Ride extract below and image from here.
"Since being elected Pope Francis is burnishing his image as the people’s pontiff. The leader of the Catholic Church plans this summer to debut a pedal-powered Popemobile as part of an environmentally friendly initiative started by his predecessor. Commissioned by England-based Environmental Transport Association, the enclosed three-wheeled rig carries a price tag of $175,000. That’s because the materials involved are far more expensive than carbon fibre: To protect the Pope, the windows are bulletproof and the panels are blast-proof, necessitating a built-in oxygen supply and solar panels for air conditioning. Cycling Romans this summer may be in for a righteous surprise on their daily commute."
It's certainly a far cry from the ye olden days missionary methods of transport staggering to think of the large distances covered by the early disciples.
This is a useful article and map below showing the locations where the first twelve disciples preached and died.
It certainly makes me think of several organisations like this one
which provide one vital element for the success of the Church's global health and pastoral work in areas of great need - a means of transport.
Various commentaries on all the readings from St Louis Centre For Liturgy from here.
Excellent reflection on the Gospel from Alice McKenzie here
Excellent reflection on the Gospel from Alice McKenzie here
Sing To The Mountains based on Sunday's Psalm 66
"Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. "
"Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves."
A sheep among wolves says we have to be prepared to take risks by walking into hostile territory and expect to be jumped by the wolves at any time.
But this gospel is a realistic one too as a little bit later it says :
"And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
When we have been surrounded by dysfunctional systems and or people for a while, Christ acknowledges the limitations of the situation and accepts it might be better to dust our feet and leave !
A sheep among wolves says we have to be prepared to take risks by walking into hostile territory and expect to be jumped by the wolves at any time.
But this gospel is a realistic one too as a little bit later it says :
"And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
When we have been surrounded by dysfunctional systems and or people for a while, Christ acknowledges the limitations of the situation and accepts it might be better to dust our feet and leave !
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