Reflection for the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel (Luke 10:1-20) we see Jesus sending out seventy-two faithful disciples into various villages to prepare the way for Him.  They were able to cast out demons, heal the sick and perform other miracles that set the stage for Jesus to come and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. When they returned to Him they were ecstatic to recount the power that had been given to them. Jesus commended them for what they had done but helped them to understand two things: first, the power they had was from on high—not from within themselves.  Everything they had done had been the work of God. They were not to ‘take credit’ for what they had done, but rather to give glory to God who had been powerful IN them by His grace.

Second, they were to understand that they were channels of grace, helping to open hearts to the gift of God that was to come in the person of Jesus in the next phase of each person’s journey toward God. The seventy-two were co-workers in the Kingdom. Jesus Himself and His Holy Spirit would take up where they had left off. Each individual who had seen the work of God was now prepared to believe in the WORD of God, Jesus Himself.  So, what does this say to you and to me?

All of us have had concerns for someone who did not seem to believe in God, or was weak in faith, or worse, had ‘abandoned’ the Church completely. Perhaps we have sacrificed, sent offerings for Masses for the person’s conversion, or may have spent time in earnest conversation with someone trying to convince him or her that God desires to pour out His Mercy on the soul. And it may seem that we have gotten nowhere. Not true. No prayer goes unanswered, no earnest word is lost. Our efforts will bear fruit by the grace of God but we may not see it in our time. The journey toward God that we walk with another may at some point move along a path we cannot see or understand. Have faith. Trust in the Mercy of God.  Rejoice that you had an opportunity to shine a light into the soul of another.  You don’t have to see the brilliance of it. That’s God’s prerogative. We are the channels. God’s is the grace and the glory.

May God strengthen you as you continue to cooperate in the saving work of God.

Have a week full of blessings.