Jesus sends out the Seventy-Two – Mark 10:1-9

Jesus, you came as one bring peace, and told us to greet people with a word of peace, not hostility, or judgment. May your blessing flow through me, so that when i leave people, they may feel approved of, contented and tranquil.

There’s something in this bit of the gospel about being single-minded in the service of the Lord. Where you find a good place to spread the word, you stay there. You move on if there is no openness. Our big message is that the kingdom of God is very near. This nearness is in the person of Jesus. God’s reign of love and justice is near to us when we are closely in touch with the Lord Jesus.

A harvest can be ruined by a lack of workers. A field full of fruit can go to waste when there are not enough people to pick the fruit. The world is the harvest of God where his love and his word are sown. Without the followers of Jesus, the word is unspoken and even the love of God is unrecognized. Prayer can increase our desire to spread the word and love of Jesus Christ in our immediate surroundings.

These instructions of Jesus seem to be about being single-minded in his service. We put trust in him rather than in having spares of everything or by depending on money. Prayer and service, love of others and of the poor, bring the kingdom near in word and deed.

The Lord had his helpers – people went before him to announce he was coming. The kingdom of God is never spread on one’s own. As a community we listen to the word of God and respond. Team work is the way forward for any Christian community.  Prayer helps us recognise the gifts and talents of everyone, and the dignity of each of us in the sight of God.

There is an encouragement here from Jesus to place trust only in him as we work for the kingdom of God. We are to carry little for the journey. Often what we do in faith and love seems to bear little fruit. Offered to the work of Jesus in the world, we never know when it may bear fruit. We are people who work hard for the Lord and leave the results to him.

© Sacred Space

Prayer of the Day

Bountiful God, give to this parish a faithful pastor who will faithfully speak your word and minister your sacraments: an encourager who will equip your people for ministry and enable us to fulfil our calling. Give to those who will choose, wisdom, discernment and patience, and to us give warm and generous hearts, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.