July 7, 2013

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Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 102

Reading 1IS 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.

Jerusalem on high is our mother, the Church:

 

Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.  23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Responsorial PsalmPS 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.

Let us praise God for that which He has done.  God has come to us to save us even while we were yet sinners.  We did nothing to deserve His saving gift:

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Reading 2GAL 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.

Galatians 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.   

A New Creation in Christ, does the works of God. 

Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule

and to the Israel of God.

The Israel of God is the Church.

From now on, let no one make troubles for me;

for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

It is said that St. Paul was the first Stigmatist:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,

brothers and sisters. Amen.

St. Paul ends his letter with a blessing to all.

GospelLK 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,

Jesus sent out 72 disciples, in pairs, to preach the Gospel in Israel.  These are in addition to the 12 Apostles He sent earlier.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.

Jesus asks us to pray that more laborers may be sent out to the harvest.  The harvest is the world and the laborers are priests and religious who will lead the people out of the world and into the Kingdom of heaven.

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.

Jesus sent the disciples out to do His works with nothing but their faith.

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.

We must approach everyone with love.  But also realize that some people will not accept our love.  

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.

Those who preach the word of God are doing a very valuable work deserving of every reward.

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.’

Stay in the house and town that accepts you.  Receive what they give you with gratitude.  But if a town does not accept you, then leave and don't think about it.

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.”

Because, it will be worse for that town than it was for Sodom which God destroyed many years ago.

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.”

When the 72 returned, they rejoiced for all they had seen.  But Jesus said, "Don't be happy because of the power you received.  Instead rejoice that you are doing the works of God and will be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven."

The alternate reading is the same. 

OrLK 10:1-9

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.’”