Date: Saturday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture Text: Luke 10:17-24
The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
”At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
Breaking the text open – background and summary:
The gospel text for today recounts Jesus’ exchange with the 72 disciples upon their return from mission. He stresses to them that the power they wielded was His and that their reward for their ministry would be in heaven rather than on earth. He stopped to praise the Father Almighty and to highlight His relationship with the Father. Finally, He reminds the disciples of the blessing they have received in relationship with Him, blessings others had longed for but did not receive – the coming of the Messiah and the personal encounter with the LORD.
Meditating on the text with personal questions:
Do I recognize that while the choice is mine to use or not use the gifts of the LORD, the gifts are still from the LORD not of my own doing? Is my loving relationship with the LORD the main motivation of my life?
Praying:
LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten Son to dwell among us as our brother and to reveal You and your great love for us. He opened for us the loving relationship of Father and Son and a love so strong it cannot be denied nor destroyed. Through His teaching and example, we come to see the depth of your love for us and the breadth of your divine plan for our salvation. Send your Spirit to illuminate our minds and tenderize our hearts to that they might more fully hold onto your transformative and loving power and presence at work in our lives. Grant that we may open ourselves this day and all days to your will and to being instruments of your will using the gifts and grace You give to us in the Spirit. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.