May the Lord bless you with peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 30th September 2021.
As we end another month of grace and blessings, we are invited to be fruitful missionaries of the Word.
We celebrate the memorial of St. Jereme, priest, and doctor of the Church. A patron of librarians, interpreters, and scholars. An ascetic elite, well-versed scholar in Scripture, “Ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” Unless and until we are familiar with the Word of God, we cannot establish a minimal connection with Christ.
We reflect on Nehemiah 8:1-12 and the Gospel of Luke 10:1-12.
It is the day of choosing and decision. The mission and ministry are for all of us.
Can we listen to the Word of God from dawn till noon? What would be your answer? In the first reading we encounter Ezra reading the Book of the Law from morning until noon and people listened attentively. People stood for several hours in listening to the Word of God. It resonates Moses reading the Law to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.
This is what happens every eucharistic celebration. We all listen to the Word of God and its application in our life. The Word of God pierces through the secret places of our being and challenges us to live a life that pleases God. Listen to the Word is the joyful occasion and a moment of thanksgiving as we encounter Christ Himself in the celebration. We need to live what we celebrate.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Lk.10:2).
The Gospel presents us with the mission of the seventy-two. Luke alone mentions this group sent by Jesus two by two. The theme of this passage is that Jesus prepares the witnesses to himself and his ministry. They include not only the twelve but also the seventy-two and the instructions given by the Lord to them both are same. The urgency of the mission and singlemindedness along with sincere detachment with material things and are so much required for a fruitful mission. The words of Jesus not only addressed to them but also to us no matter what age and status we have as we hear. Never too late to respond to the Word of the Master.
Jesus sends us to people who are not nice, “I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.” The opposition and resistance are the immediate reaction in listening to the Word of God. even if we are rejected, we need to share what we have experienced and been entrusted with.
We read and reflect the Word of God not to appease, entertain the mind rather to have a personal conversion. Repentance is the fruit of assimilating the Word of God and being truthful to it. Unless the Word made flesh in us, we can easily succumb to our flesh.
In a special way, we pray for vocations today so that many more participate in sharing the ministry of the Lord. Have a lovely day. God bless you.