We all know that Jesus is God. He can do all things. While he was in our midst, he healed the sick, fed the hungry, brought the dead back to life and even overcame the power of the devil as he rose from the dead. So, why did he need the help of the seventy-two who we hear him send out two by two in today’s Gospel? Actually, he didn’t need their help. Jesus saves the world all by himself. However, God, in his divine providence, calls on us to assist him in building his kingdom here on earth and bringing salvation to all humanity. We hear our risen Lord give that very clear instruction before he returns to the Father. “Go out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” we hear him say to his followers just before he ascended into heaven. And, before that, during his public ministry, Jesus sent out the 12 – as we hear in chapter 9 of Luke’s Gospel – and then the 72 – as we hear today. And, just as the number 12 was important, since it recalled the 12 tribes of Israel, 72 was significant because it represented all the nations of the then-known world. As Jesus began his journey to Jerusalem, he was setting in motion the building up of the Church that would take up the reins of leadership after he had ascended into heaven, led by both the descendants of the 12 to the tribes of Israel and the 72 to all the nations.
Jesus sent his followers out to teach the gospel, heal the sick, forgive sins, cast out demons and announce the kingdom of God. He assured them that the harvest was plenty. As Jesus prepared to save us by his death and Resurrection on Calvary, he knew his days here an earth were numbered, but that the whole world must be touched by his message and continue his mission of building the kingdom of God here on earth.
The chosen ones were told to travel lightly. All they were to carry with them besides the clothing on their back was total trust in the providence of God to meet their needs. And, they were warned that not everyone would welcome their message. Where God’s word was welcomed, people would also welcome those who preached it. On the other hand, where the Gospel was rejected, these disciples should shake the dust from their feet and move on to other towns. History shows acceptance and rejection from individuals and communities down through the ages; it’s still the case today, isn’t it? But, as we hear from Jesus as he prepares to ascend, we – his followers down through the ages – are called to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
The underlying truth of these instructions, it seems, is this: whether people want to listen or not, regardless of whether they come to believe it or not, the Kingdom of God is, in fact, at hand. Jesus came to establish it in our midst and it will remain until the end of time. And this fact requires something of everyone who believes – repentance and a missionary zeal. Jesus has given his faithful followers power over all evil. “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky,” we hear Jesus exclaim in today’s Gospel. We have nothing to fear if we trust in the Lord.
At the same time, we need not be too concerned about our success nor should we focus on finding easy ways to get others to like our message. Notice that, after Jesus speaks of the defeat of Satan, he cautions his disciples to not rejoice because the spirits were subject to them but to rejoice because their names were written in heaven. We need always to have our final goal in focus – and that is to get to heaven. And, we only get there by being faithful to our Lord and his mission. And, his mission included the cross. So, we shouldn’t be surprised when we are given crosses to bear.
Remember what Jesus said as he sent out the 72: “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” You and I are the Lord’s laborers today. They are not some “other people” – it’s us. So, we are called to shed the excess baggage of doubt and distraction, and depend on God to complete the great work he has begun in us. This message is at the heart of the new evangelization that the past several popes – and our new pope, as well – have called us all to embrace: the call for all of us to become missionary disciples.
As we hear in today’s first reading, Isaiah proclaims, “The Lord’s power shall be known to his servants.” This is the encouragement we need. Just as Jesus stayed close to his disciples empowering them to go out and proclaim his message of salvation, so he remains with us, especially through this sacred sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, where we hear God’s word and receive our Lord’s own life-giving Body and Blood, and through his Holy Spirit that he sent us at Pentecost and we have received at baptism and in its fullness at confirmation. With this divine power, we can make his Good News of salvation known to everyone whose heart is open to hear it. And, as Jesus was patient with his first disciples, he is patient with us, always cajoling us to continue the work he has called us to do. From Jerusalem to Wayne to the ends of the earth, all will experience the comfort and love of a merciful God that we hear about in today’s first reading. How privileged we are to be called to proclaim this message of salvation to a world that so desperately needs to hear it. Let us, like St. Paul did in today’s second reading, never boast except in the Lord!