Just to exaggerate a little bit, if the disciples are the first priests then the “seventy-two” who are sent out at the beginning of this reading are the lay people who are likewise sent. They are given power without the tools of power. They are invited to live a strange way of trusting without possessing anything except trust in the Sender. They receive instructions, but the basic call is to extend the Kingdom of God to others by being a blessing from God.

The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 66:10-14c

Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16+20

Galatians 6:14-18

L uke 10:1-12, 17-20  After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. (2) And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (3) Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (4) Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. (5) Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' (6) And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. (7) And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. (8) Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; (9) heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' (10) But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, (11) `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come  near.' (12) I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (17) The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" (18) And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. (20) Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Meditation by Larry Gillick, S.J. (Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality)

PRE-PRAYERING

T his day here in the United States of America is known as “The Fourth”. It is our Independence Day and it is amazing how many other countries have days of freedom from their being dominated by other nations. I am not totally convinced that all our citizens know the reason for our celebrating with parades, picnics and fireworks. It was a long time ago and freedom is such a comfortable word on the tongue, which we assume everybody has it or we are working to get it for them.

Editor’s Note: To read related articles about the Fourth of July and Philippine Independence, please click on the following links:

The Fourth of July Is RP-US "Interdependence Day"

Reconciling the 1898 and 1946 Philippine-Independence Days

F reedom is what Jesus came to offer us, worked hard to bring about for us. We have so many delightful and attractive dependencies that seem to offer freedom for us. Addictions seem to offer us relief and freedom from other things bothering us, at least we are liberated from those. As we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s freeing us, we might check to see if there are any dominating fears, memories, expectations, regrets or grudges which are addictively imprisoning our spirits. He came that we might have life and for Jesus, life is freedom for as well as freedom from. We might pray as well for the more wealthy and powerful countries to bring about the blessings of peace with Justice for All.

REFLECTION

T here is almost a Third-Sunday of Advent spirit about today’s First Reading, It begins with a shout to rejoice over the city of Jerusalem. The holy temple has been rebuilt and she is a city now for comfort. Earlier in the same chapter there begins the theme of motherly images of God’s creating or giving new birth to Jerusalem. Now her sons can find comfort and nourishment in her intimate presence. 

There had been mourning at the destruction of the holy in Jerusalem and the idolatrous practices performed there. Now her children can return and reverence once more the glorious city of peace which its name bespeaks. Her children will be comforted and prepared for service and revelation of that same glorious God. Nursing children do not stay forever in their mother’s arms nor do they rest comfortably on their mother’s laps. The prophecy is meant to announce that God is back in town and all are meant to return, remember and respond to being so loved.

We will be listening to verses from this chapter in Luke’s Gospel for the next three weekends. I would call this the “Attitude” section of Luke’s Gospel. Just to exaggerate a little bit, if the disciples are the first priests then the “seventy-two” who are sent out at the beginning of this reading are the lay people who are likewise sent. They are given power without the tools of power. They are invited to live a strange way of trusting without possessing anything except trust in the Sender. They receive instructions, but the basic call is to extend the Kingdom of God to others by being a blessing from God.

There is a quick scene-change and the Big Seventy-two return rejoicing in all they had done. It seems they were surprised at how successful they had been. They extended peace, shook off dust from their not being welcomed and they had cured the sick, just as Jesus was doing. They had power even over the demons because of the name of Jesus. In all their excitement, Jesus reminds them that their real joy is not in what they had done, but that God knows who they are and all they have done. This is all quite a call to their readjusting their attitudes of who they are.

Somehow I feel something akin to what Jesus was feeling as His lay-associates returned. Our Christian Church began with people receiving a Spirit, an identity and a mission. Structures were formed of course which is natural and distinctions were made. Slowly the laity were given the image of being led like sheep or something. The Vatican Council II began the slow shift of attitude among the shepherds and the sheep. We were invited to be the People of God on a pilgrimage of faith and together. As I wrote last week, I entered the Jesuits fifty years ago, three years before the Council. What changes have occurred since then! What changes haven’t as well as of yet.

In most churches there are commissioned men and women who actually distribute Holy Communion, imagine that fifty years ago. A married deacon witnessed recently a wedding during a Eucharistic liturgy I celebrated, imagine that fifty years ago. Conferences of Catholic bishops consult lay people who are theologians and not just male types either and just imagine that fifty years ago. The Church rejoices mostly, with how the Spirit is forming, rebuilding the “New” Seventy-Two, the new people to be blessed and distributed. I can imagine that some of those early Seventy-Two had some attitude adjustments taking place. They were asked just to get going, taking not much, not feeling much about themselves and had some hard confronting and risking to do. They might even have had to insult the religious leaders and experience rejection, imagine that. Fifty years is not a long time for changing senses of identities when those initial identities had been formed for over a thousand years. They were a brave and trusting lot. Like their Teacher, they were going out like lambs among wolves. Imagine that!

The Church’s daughters and sons are seeking her comfort and care as they re-find their places in her lap. As with the children returning to Jerusalem, who are nourished for service, so our lay sisters and brothers need the nourishment for the activities to which the Council and the Spirit are calling them. Consolations and comforts are wonderful. We have all been given gifts and the grace to rely on the Giver and Sender. Our names are all written in heaven alongside the martyrs and saints who have gone and done before us. Rejoice! Rejoice, because we could not have imagined what has happened in these past fifty years nor can we imagine what the Spirit will be up to in the next fifty. Bring it on!

“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord; blessed is he who hopes in God.” Ps. 34, 9

Supplementary Reading

Celebrate Your Freedom

You have been set free from sin…-- Romans 6:18

T his weekend, we celebrate Independence Day in America. July 4, 1776, was the day America declared independence from Britain, but the battle for freedom went on until 1783—seven more years. Even though the people declared their freedom in 1776, they had to stand and fight for many years before the British would accept and recognized the United States of America.

In the same way, we have to declare our freedom and be determined to stand against the opposing forces in our lives. We have to declare our freedom from addiction, poverty, sickness, and lack. We have to stand and fight until we fully experience that freedom and peace that God has promised.

I love what our forefathers did once they signed the Declaration of Independence. They read it out loud in public. They published it in the newspaper. They spread the word. They continued to declare and celebrate even though they were in the midst of the battle.

Whatever battle you may be facing today, declare that you are free! Declare that you are an overcomer! Celebrate the victory that is on its way! As you stand strong and celebrate your freedom, you will experience His victory and true freedom all the days of your life!

Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free in every area of my life. I declare today that nothing can hold me back. I declare that I am free from sickness, poverty, lack, and addiction. I declare that You have set me free and thank You for freedom in every area of my life. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

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GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.