Lambs Among Wolves

 

  Luke 10: 1-12

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

While we are not among the original 72, the commission to go out into the field like lambs among wolves is still in effect, and as challenging now as when Jesus originally gave it. Just look at the decline in the number of  people practicing their faith, the number of churches closing due to lack of members and priests, the decline in moral values such as honesty and truth. We are ripe for a new evangelization, and who is going to answer the call except you and me? We can begin with  the people with whom we have contact or rub shoulders, especially in our own families.  Tough when our own children have drifted and do not practice the faith we nurtured in them. Our prayers, our on-going love and good example, our words of encouragement, a direct nudge...whatever we can do to help them see the light and return to observing values and active practice instilled in them when they were young, these can work. Believe, Believe, Believe!

Bro. Rene

Dear God,help me to put into practice the commission you gave to the 72 with the assurance that you will guide my with your grace and inspiration. Amen.