Read Luke 10:1-11 and 16-20

Friday

Read Luke 10:1-11 and 16-20

After this the Lord chose another 72^l men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. ²He said to them, “There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. ³Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. ⁴Don’t take a purse or a beggar’s bag or shoes; don’t stop to greet anyone on the road. ⁵Whenever you go into a house, first say, ‘Peace be with this house.’ ⁶If a peace-loving person lives there, let your greeting of peace remain on him; if not, take back your greeting of peace. ⁷Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be given their pay. Don’t move round from one house to another. ⁸Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you, ⁹heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near you.’ ¹⁰But whenever you go into a town and are not welcomed, go out in the streets and say, ¹¹‘Even the dust from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the Kingdom of God has come near you!’

16 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

17 The 72^m men came back in great joy. “Lord,” they said, “even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!”

18 Jesus answered them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. ²⁰But don’t be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven.”

Think

Jesus sends his disciples out to minister.  He invites them not to force themselves into communities; communities may welcome or reject them.  As the disciples minister faithfully the world is transformed.  Jesus says to them: "I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven!"

This happens when disciples faithfully answer their call and communities receive their message.

Pray

Lord if you call me to go; give me obedience to move.  And Lord if you call me to receive, to offer hospitality - give me the obedience to welcome your word and your messengers.