Posted by The WORD in other words (2013) by Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
We get a wider perspective of the mission condition during the time of Jesus in our Gospel. Last Sunday, we heard about the hostile attitude of the Samaritans who refused hospitality to Jesus’ ‘advance party’ (Lk 9: 52-53). No wonder his disciples wished destruction to fall upon them with “fire from heaven”.
During the time of the ministry of Jesus, the Samaritans and Judeans had experienced seven hundred years of tense and hostile relationships, even while acknowledging Jacob as their common patriarch (Jn 4:12). There was mutual fear and hostility between the Samaritans and Judeans because of unsettled religious and political concerns in the past.
In the context of a hostile environment, the Lord chose seventy two disciples and sent them two by two. The seventy two people (signifying the universal mandate) were sent as “advance party” to the different villages to prepare for his visit. Thus the Lord designs a good pastoral approach in his missionary journey.
Let us derive from his story the following path to new evangelization:
a) awareness of the immensity of the work – big harvest
b) humility to accept the limitation of the workers – few in number
c) travel light – simple lifestyle
d) go to a home and stay there – be happy with what people offer
e) spend quality time in the family – less in the streets
f) bless the household with Peace – consecrate them to peace
g) proclaim God’s reign by your healing presence – reconciliation
Looking at the first reading from the book of Isaiah 66:10-14, we see the imagery of a mother “nursing and comforting a child.” The maternal care gives strength and assures the presence of the Lord.
The home and the family is the best place for the nurturance of the presence of the Lord. A comforting mother in the family creates a strong foundation for the experience of the reign of God. This experience is a healing one. St. Paul calls this in Gal 6:14-18 (2nd Rdg), “the new person “ – a person of kindness and a person of peace.
As agents of a healing evangelization, we work together as partners and companions on the way to proclaiming the reign of God by living lives of peace and reconciliation.
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