FAUSTI - The passage starts when Jesus sends and ends when He is sent.(v 16) : He sends the disciples as the Father sent Him. The source of the Mission is always the Father, in His Mercy for all His sons. The Son is the first sent because He knows Him. After Him, those who have recognized Him as their brother are sent by Him and like Him. The mission has nothing to do with the proselytism. The mission is born from the Love of the Father for all His children and ends in the love of the children for the Father and among them. It expands into an ever wider horizon, to the point of embracing the ends of the earth: it is the circle of the Father's arms, which opens to embrace all the children without losing any, because He doesn't have children to waste. Mission is an essential dimension of the Church: one realizes his nature as a son in the measure in which he goes to all his brothers and sisters with the love of the Father. The conditions of the mission of the 72, like those of the Twelve, are the same as those of Jesus. The difference is in the fact that He is the Son who has left the Father and has come to seek his brothers and sisters. Instead, the Twelve are called and the seventy-two designated to collaborate in His work. The responsibility of the brother, for whom the Lord is dead, is the origin of the mission. "The love of Christ impels us, to the thought that one man died for all". (2Cor 5,14). It is only in the mission to my brethren that I myself become a son. The mission is not someone's business, but each one's responsibility. The image of the harvest recalls the decisive coming for the judgment of salvation. In fact, every man is from the beginning harvest, wheat ripe to become the Body of the Lord, uniting himself to Him on His way to the Father. The harvest, if it is not harvested, rots. If man does not experience his brother's love, he does not become a son: instead of the bread of life, he becomes the leaven of death. It is interesting to note that the sending of the 72 is both the sowing of the Word and the harvesting. In fact, the acceptance of the proclamation, which is the sowing of seeds, is already salvation, that is, harvest. "The harvest is very much", that is, all mankind, because those who know the heart of the Father are solicitous to all their brothers and sisters. The Word has an initial image that gives meaning to the mission: "lambs in the midst of wolves", under the banner of the Pastor who became Immolated Lamb. This mission, just as from Israel it goes to the ends of space, so from Jesus it extends to the end of time. Then the Lord will come. "But it is first necessary that the Gospel be proclaimed to all nations. The aim of the mission is not only victory over evil, and the return to the original state of Adam, king of creation, but especially the fact that the name of the disciples, in the Name of Jesus, is written in heaven, that is, in God. Jesus came to give us the joy of entering into His communion as Son with the Father. Four prohibitions describe the mission in poverty and the clarifications about the announcement of the kingdom: "enter" "say" "stay" "eat" "take care" "say". This announcement, urgent and necessary, takes place in contradiction and rejection. All this ends with the identification of the sent disciples with Jesus, sent by the Father. The colour of the return is joy, the definitive gift of the workers. The disciples rejoice for the victory over Satan that is fulfilled today, in their mission. Secondly, it is also a return to the original condition of paradise, in which man resumes his role as lord of creation. No evil and no poison, not even death, can damage him and poison his life. "Your names are written in the heaven": this is the real reason for joy. It is the elevation to the intimacy and fullness of life of God.
-->From here we can understand how the missionary spirit is of the whole Church, if she wants to reach the objective of being like the Son, who loves the Father and his brethren.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 102 Reading 1 IS 66:10-14C Thus says the LORD: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, that you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts! For thus says the LORD: Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.
When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass; the LORD's power shall be known to his servants. Responsorial Psalm PS 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!" R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. "Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!" Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. He rules by his might forever. R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Reading 2 GAL 6:14-18 Brothers and sisters: 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 and sisters. Amen.
Alleluia COL 3:15A, 16A R. Alleluia, alleluia. Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 10:1-12, 17-20 At that time 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.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "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." WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER The true preacher is the one who knows himself to be weak, who knows that he cannot defend himself by himself. You go like a lamb among wolves' - 'But, Lord, why do they eat me?' - 'You, go! This is the journey. And I believe that it is Chrysostom who makes a very profound reflection, when he says: 'But if you do not go like a lamb, but go like a wolf among wolves, the Lord does not protect you: defend yourself'. When the preacher thinks he is too intelligent. 'Ah, I'm fine with these people!' That way, it will end badly. Or he will negotiate the Word of God: to the powerful, to the proud. (Santa Marta, 14 February 2017)
FAUSTI - The passage starts when Jesus sends and ends when He is sent.(v 16) : He sends the disciples as the Father sent Him. The source of the Mission is always the Father, in His Mercy for all His sons.
RispondiEliminaThe Son is the first sent because He knows Him.
After Him, those who have recognized Him as their brother are sent by Him and like Him.
The mission has nothing to do with the proselytism.
The mission is born from the Love of the Father for all His children and ends in the love of the children for the Father and among them. It expands into an ever wider horizon, to the point of embracing the ends of the earth: it is the circle of the Father's arms, which opens to embrace all the children without losing any, because He doesn't have children to waste.
Mission is an essential dimension of the Church: one realizes his nature as a son in the measure in which he goes to all his brothers and sisters with the love of the Father.
The conditions of the mission of the 72, like those of the Twelve, are the same as those of Jesus.
The difference is in the fact that He is the Son who has left the Father and has come to seek his brothers and sisters. Instead, the Twelve are called and the seventy-two designated to collaborate in His work.
The responsibility of the brother, for whom the Lord is dead, is the origin of the mission.
"The love of Christ impels us, to the thought that one man died for all". (2Cor 5,14).
It is only in the mission to my brethren that I myself become a son.
The mission is not someone's business, but each one's responsibility.
The image of the harvest recalls the decisive coming for the judgment of salvation.
In fact, every man is from the beginning harvest, wheat ripe to become the Body of the Lord, uniting himself to Him on His way to the Father.
The harvest, if it is not harvested, rots.
If man does not experience his brother's love, he does not become a son: instead of the bread of life, he becomes the leaven of death.
It is interesting to note that the sending of the 72 is both the sowing of the Word and the harvesting.
In fact, the acceptance of the proclamation, which is the sowing of seeds, is already salvation, that is, harvest.
"The harvest is very much", that is, all mankind, because those who know the heart of the Father are solicitous to all their brothers and sisters. The Word has an initial image that gives meaning to the mission: "lambs in the midst of wolves", under the banner of the Pastor who became Immolated Lamb.
This mission, just as from Israel it goes to the ends of space, so from Jesus it extends to the end of time. Then the Lord will come.
"But it is first necessary that the Gospel be proclaimed to all nations.
The aim of the mission is not only victory over evil, and the return to the original state of Adam, king of creation, but especially the fact that the name of the disciples, in the Name of Jesus, is written in heaven, that is, in God.
Jesus came to give us the joy of entering into His communion as Son with the Father.
Four prohibitions describe the mission in poverty and the clarifications about the announcement of the kingdom: "enter" "say" "stay" "eat" "take care" "say".
This announcement, urgent and necessary, takes place in contradiction and rejection.
All this ends with the identification of the sent disciples with Jesus, sent by the Father.
The colour of the return is joy, the definitive gift of the workers.
The disciples rejoice for the victory over Satan that is fulfilled today, in their mission.
Secondly, it is also a return to the original condition of paradise, in which man resumes his role as lord of creation. No evil and no poison, not even death, can damage him and poison his life.
"Your names are written in the heaven": this is the real reason for joy.
It is the elevation to the intimacy and fullness of life of God.
-->From here we can understand how the missionary spirit is of the whole Church, if she wants to reach the objective of being like the Son, who loves the Father and his brethren.
RispondiEliminaFourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 102
Reading 1 IS 66:10-14C
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,
all you who love her;
exult, exult with her,
all you who were mourning over her!
Oh, that you may suck fully
of the milk of her comfort,
that you may nurse with delight
at her abundant breasts!
For thus says the LORD:
Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,
and fondled in her lap;
as a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.
When you see this, your heart shall rejoice
and your bodies flourish like the grass;
the LORD's power shall be known to his servants.
Responsorial Psalm PS 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Reading 2 GAL 6:14-18
Brothers and sisters:
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 and sisters. Amen.
Alleluia COL 3:15A, 16A
RispondiEliminaR. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 10:1-12, 17-20
At that time 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.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
"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."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
The true preacher is the one who knows himself to be weak, who knows that he cannot defend himself by himself. You go like a lamb among wolves' - 'But, Lord, why do they eat me?' - 'You, go! This is the journey. And I believe that it is Chrysostom who makes a very profound reflection, when he says: 'But if you do not go like a lamb, but go like a wolf among wolves, the Lord does not protect you: defend yourself'. When the preacher thinks he is too intelligent. 'Ah, I'm fine with these people!' That way, it will end badly. Or he will negotiate the Word of God: to the powerful, to the proud. (Santa Marta, 14 February 2017)