18 October 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

First Reading: Second Timothy 4: 10-17b
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 10-11, 12-13, 17-18
Alleluia: John 15: 16
Gospel: Luke 10: 1-9

The Lord Jesus sends seventy-two disciples on a mission to announce the Good News of God in the villages and in cities of Galilee. He seeks to recover the traditional community values of the people who felt crushed by the twofold slavery of the Roman domination and by the official religion. Jesus wants to renew and organize the communities so that they become an expression of the Covenant.

Sent as pairs, co-responsibility for the mission was apparent among the disciples. It was of paramount importance and the disciples understood that they are being sent like lambs among wolves. It would be difficult and dangerous because the system at the time, like the one in which we have now was and continues to be contrary to reorganizing life-giving communities. Thus, the carrying of haversacks and money is of significance also, but in a different way.

When Pharisees go around, they could not trust the food from the people because it was not always ritually “pure”. So, they took with them haversacks, purses, and money to be able to get their own food. Instead of helping to overcome divisions, the laws of purity weakened the living out of the community values even more. Jesus' disciples are not to take anything with them, except peace. This meant trusting the hospitality of others because those who goes without anything but peace, indicates trust in people.

The disciples participate in the life and work of the people and live from what they receive. They take care of the sick, cure lepers, cast out devils and accept those who were excluded within the community, much like what we do with migrants and