THE WORD
FIRST READING: Is 66,10-14
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,
all you who love her;
Rejoice with her in her joy,
all you who mourn over her
So that you may nurse and be satisfi ed
from her consoling breast;
That you may drink with delight
at her abundant breasts!
For thus says the LORD:
I will spread prosperity over her like a river,
like an overfl owing torrent,
the wealth of nations.
You shall nurse, carried in her arms,
cradled upon her knees;
As a mother comforts her child,
so I will comfort you;
in Jerusalem you shall fi nd your comfort.
You will see and your heart shall exult,
and your bodies shall fl ourish like the grass;
The LORD’s power shall be revealed to his servants,
but to his enemies, his wrath.
SECOND READING: Gal 6,14-18
But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God.
From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
GOSPEL: Lk 10,1-12.17-20
After this the Lord appointed seventy (-two) others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
IN OTHER WORDS
I have had many opportunities to counsel young professionals. A good number of them have often asked me how they can have some sense of purpose in their life. I usually give them two suggestions. The first is for them to join a group for social and, much more, spiritual support. A good number of such groups exist especially those started by charismatics. My second suggestion is for them to do volunteer work especially in groups and associations that help the poor and less fortunate. Some of these young professionals who come back to me after some time are thankful for the suggestions which they took to heart and followed. They are grateful for finding meaning in their lives different from that in just making a living out of their careers.
What I made these young professionals see was that each of us has a specific life-mission appropriate to our talents, capacities, abilities and even flaws and weaknesses. Everyone then has a mandate from Jesus to be of significant use to him and to share his love to all. You and I are sent by Jesus just like the seventy-two disciples were in today’s gospel.
Along the way, some blocks may prevent one from the giving of self to such a mission. One block would be a sense of unworthiness which Satan would surely make a big deal of by telling us that we are not good enough to be of service to the Lord. Another block may just be one’s own plain
selfishness and the inability to see beyond one’s own needs. Those young professionals who came back to me to express their gratitude found joy in their lives when they went beyond their concerns; they saw many people less fortunate than they were and who needed urgently their generosity.
We have to be fruitful branches attached to the vine who is Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the grim prospect of being cut off from the vine becomes very real. We have to ask ourselves “How am I as a creation of the Lord in this present time?” “Have I made myself worthy of the life that God has given me?” “Have I become a true disciple of the Lord in what I am doing in my life?” They are hard questions indeed but questions which cannot be left unanswered.
- Fr. Emmanuel Menguito, SVD | CKMS, Quezon
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
