Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples 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.”
REFLECTION
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."
Sometimes instructions can be confusing. They either don't provide much information or provide too much information or verbal instructions may not be understood. Jesus' instructions are direct, simple and easy to follow.
Jesus has a mission for the seventy-two disciples. He tells them first to ask or pray for more laborers. He knows that the work will be hard and dangerous. There are so many dangers where He is sending the disciples, like lambs among the wolves. They are to go in peace not force. They are to bring the good news. The need to have little possessions and rely only on the Lord is necessary. They are to remain focused, avoid distractions, delays and rely on God for everything,
Money, clothing, looks, social status, occupation or personality will not win souls. Only Jesus Christ will transform hearts and souls. The Lord who works changes in all things, heals broken bodies and turns bitterness to sweetness.
PAPA prays for priests and vocations. The priests are men God has chosen for His service. But nonetheless they are human beings. So we pray for the weak and frail, the faithful and the fervent, the unfaithful and the tepid, the lonely and the aged, the sick and dying, and those in purgatory, They bring the sacraments to us. They bring us Jesus in the Eucharist. It is our duty to offer the simple prayer of PAPA Prayer for priests. Adoration, rosaries, Masses we offer also for the priests.
We too are called to be laborers for God and His Kingdom. Throughout His life, Jesus showed us how to love and be mercy. We are to care for the broken hearted, forgive, feed, tell others of the good news and not have unnecessary possessions.
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